Gelber Sack and Gelbe Tonne: what can go in?

The deciding factor is simply whether an item is packaging. It does not matter whether it carries the “Der Grüne Punkt” (Green Dot) symbol. Since the Packaging Ordinance came into force, virtually all sales packaging is covered by the system, including packaging without the Green Dot.

• Plastic packaging: yoghurt pots, shampoo bottles, plastic trays, carrier bags, film, blister packs and polystyrene packaging.
• Metal packaging: food tins, drinks cans, aluminium trays and foil, bottle tops, screw caps and empty aerosol cans.
• Composite packaging: drinks cartons (Tetra Pak), coffee bags, vacuum packs and other packaging made from mixed materials.

Packaging must be completely empty; “spoon-clean” is sufficient. Rinsing it with drinking water is neither necessary nor sensible, as the sorting facilities wash it anyway. Residues that cannot be removed, such as dried paint or oil, do not belong in the yellow collection.

By far the most common error: people use the yellow sack as a second general waste bin. Items made of plastic or metal that are no longer packaging — in other words, everything else — goes into general waste or onto the materials recovery centre. Too many contaminated items can lead to collection skip, where the waste truck just leaves the bin standing.

• Not general waste: Nappies, food scraps, vacuum cleaner bags, ash and hygiene products go into the general waste bin.
• Not electrical equipment: Small appliances like toasters or hair dryers are WEEE and go to the recycling centre or back to the retailer.
• Not glass: Bottles and jars go into the glass recycling bin, separated by clear, green and brown glass.
• Not paper or cardboard: The paper and cardboard bin is for that — exception: pizza boxes etc., which count as packaging, vary by local authority.
• Not toys, pots, clothing or CDs: Just because something is made of plastic or metal doesn't make it packaging.

Each municipality decides whether it collects sacks or empties bins; the two systems are equivalent. The Gelber Sack is widespread in rural areas, and sacks are available free from citizens' offices, waste operators and distribution points. The Gelbe Tonne is more common in cities, usually in 120 or 240 litre sizes and collected on a 14-day cycle.

Some municipalities go further and use a Wertstofftonne recycling bin, which accepts household objects made of metal and plastic as well as packaging. Local rules differ, so always check your city's waste calendar. BinMinder can tell you when your Gelber Sack or Gelbe Tonne is next due with a free reminder.

Behind the yellow collection sits a system unique to Germany: the dual system. While local authorities are responsible for general waste, paper and organic waste, manufacturers and retailers handle the collection of their own packaging — for which they license their volume through one of Germany's dual systems. "Der Grüne Punkt" (The Green Dot) is the best-known of these systems and its symbol has become a brand unto itself.

For households this means: packaging disposal from the yellow collection is already included in the purchase price, and the collection itself is free. At the same time, the responsibility for correct separation falls on households — only cleanly segregated collections can be recycled at all. Around two-thirds of the yellow collection is now recycled, with the remainder going for energy recovery.

Flatten packaging to save space: squash bottles, press cartons flat. Don't nestle items tightly inside one another — the sorting plant needs to be able to separate materials. Screw-top lids from glass jars go in the yellow sack; the glass itself goes in the container. When your sack is full: refills are free from your local authority, so there's no need to keep stockpiling. And remember the collection day — for sacks in most municipalities: don't put them out until the evening before or on collection day itself, or face fines for placing waste in the wrong place.