Germany is famous for its sausages, castles—and trash cans. Yes, really. The country has one of the most advanced recycling systems in the world, and even short-term visitors will quickly notice: waste separation is taken seriously. But don’t panic. With a little guidance, you’ll be tossing your trash like a local in no time. Learn all about how to recycle in Germany like the locals.
The Color Code: Know Your Bins
The exact system can vary slightly between federal states and cities, but here’s the typical color code you’ll encounter across most of Germany:
- Yellow bin (Gelbe Tonne or Gelber Sack): Packaging made of plastic, metal, or composite materials (like tetrapaks).
- Blue bin (Blaue Tonne): Paper and cardboard.
- Brown or green bin (Biotonne): Organic waste like food scraps and coffee grounds.
- Black or gray bin (Restmülltonne): Residual waste—everything that doesn’t fit in the other bins.
- Glass containers: Separate bins for white (clear), green, and brown glass. These are usually placed in public collection spots, not at home.
The Yogurt Cup Dilemma
So, you’ve just enjoyed your creamy German yogurt. Where does the empty cup go? Into the yellow bin—but there’s a catch:
- Rinse it lightly. You don’t need to scrub it spotless, but leftover food can contaminate the recycling process.
- Separate the lid (if it’s metal or foil) from the plastic cup.
- No spoon left behind: The plastic spoon you grabbed at the supermarket? That goes in the yellow bin too.
Return and Earn: The Pfand System
If you’ve ever seen Germans queuing up at a machine with bags full of bottles, you’ve witnessed the Pfand system in action. It’s a nationwide bottle deposit scheme to encourage recycling.
What’s Pfand?
When you buy many drinks in Germany—water, soda, beer—you pay a small deposit (Pfand) on top of the price. You get this money back when you return the empty bottle to a reverse vending machine (Pfandautomat), which you’ll find in nearly every supermarket.
How Much Do You Get Back?
- €0.25: For most Einwegflaschen (single-use plastic or cans). These are typically crushed in the machine.
- €0.08 to €0.15: For Mehrwegflaschen (reusable bottles), mostly glass or thick plastic. These are washed and refilled.
How Do You Know the Difference?
Check the label:
- “Einweg” and a small recycling logo with a bottle inside a circle mean single-use.
- “Mehrweg” or “Pfandflasche” indicates a reusable bottle.
The value should also be printed near the barcode.
Regional Quirks
While the basics are the same across Germany, there are some local variations:
- Glass bins might accept blue glass with either the green or brown section, depending on the municipality.
- Compost bins may accept cooked food in some areas—but not in others.
- In some rural areas, instead of a yellow bin, you’ll get yellow plastic bags (Gelbe Säcke) for packaging waste.
Hotels and hostels often handle sorting for you, but if you’re staying in an apartment or Airbnb, you’re expected to join the recycling game.
Pro Tips for Travelers
- Keep a separate bag for Pfand bottles in your room or car. They add up quickly!
- Not all bottles have Pfand. Juice, milk, and wine often don’t.
- If you don’t care about the deposit, place bottles next to public trash cans—someone will thank you for it.
- Don’t throw bottles into the regular bins unless you’re sure they have no deposit.
Bottom line: Germans love rules, and their trash is no exception. But by following a few simple steps—rinse, sort, and return—you’ll fit right in. And who knows? You might even leave with a few coins in your pocket, courtesy of the Pfand.
