Die Mülltrennung
Germany takes waste sorting seriously - getting it wrong is a genuine, common source of friction with neighbors and landlords for newcomers. This short vocabulary lesson is pure practical payoff: nothing here appears on an exam, but it'll matter within your first week in a German apartment.
| die Biotonne (braun) | organic waste - food scraps, garden waste |
| die Papiertonne (blau) | paper - cardboard, newspaper, paper packaging |
| der gelbe Sack / die gelbe Tonne (gelb) | recyclable packaging - plastic, metal, composite materials (marked with the "Grüner Punkt" symbol) |
| der Restmüll (schwarz/grau) | everything else - non-recyclable general waste |
Glass doesn't go in any of the four home bins - it goes to public glass containers (Glascontainer), sorted further by color:
| Weißglas | clear glass |
| Braunglas | brown glass |
| Grünglas | green glass |
Wo ist der Mülleimer? (Where's the trash can?)
Kommt das in den Restmüll oder in den gelben Sack? (Does that go in general waste or the yellow bag?)
1. What color bin is for paper?
2. What goes in the gelbe Tonne/Sack?
3. Where does glass go?
4. What's the article for "Biotonne"?
5. What's the general term for non-recyclable waste?
Waste-sorting system cross-checked against the "Wohnen" topic in the Deutsch Online A1 course glossary; actual bin rules vary slightly by city, so confirm with your local Stadtreinigung once you have an address.
Unsure which bin something specific belongs in? Ask your teaching agent - and double-check with your building or city's waste service once you're settled.