You contribute to the environment by separating your waste. How does it work?
1) PMD (Plastic, Metal Packaging & Drink Cartons)
Allowed:
- Plastic food packaging (yogurt containers, foil, trays)
- Cans and metal packaging (drink cans, food tins)
- Drink cartons such as milk and juice cartons (empty and flattened)
Not allowed (dispose elsewhere):
- Non-packaging plastic (e.g. toys, buckets, garden hoses) → residual waste
- Plastic bags containing leftover waste → residual waste
- Styrofoam, loose foil (not packaging) → residual waste / recycling center
- Electrical cables or non-packaging metal → recycling center
Leave PMD as clean as possible (empty, but no need to rinse thoroughly).
2) Paper & Cardboard
Allowed:
- Newspapers, magazines, flyers
- Cardboard boxes (flattened)
- Paper packaging (without plastic lining)
Not allowed:
- Greasy pizza boxes → residual waste (grease contaminates recycling)
- Coffee filters, napkins → residual waste
- Paper bags with plastic coating → PMD or residual waste (depending on coating)
3) Glass (Packaging Glass)
Allowed:
- Glass bottles (e.g. jam, wine, sauces)
- Glass jars
Not allowed:
- Drinking glasses, vases, ovenproof glass → recycling center / residual waste if no alternative
- Mirrors or window glass → recycling center
4) Organic Waste (GFT: Food & Garden Waste)
Allowed:
- Vegetable peels, fruit scraps
- Coffee grounds and tea bags (without plastic)
- Small garden waste
Not allowed:
- Meat/fish scraps with lots of bones or fat → often residual waste (depends on local rules)
- Cat litter → residual waste
- Soil, stones, or large tree stumps → recycling center
5) Residual Waste
This bin is for:
- Anything that does not fit into the categories above
- Greasy pizza boxes
- Broken ceramics, coffee cups
- Strings, ribbons, rubber bands
- Disposable napkins
Exceptions (dispose separately):
- Hazardous waste, batteries, old light bulbs → collection points or recycling center
- Electrical appliances, refrigerators → bulky waste / recycling center
This is the “everything else” bin. Try to keep it as empty as possible.
6) Special Waste Streams
Batteries & light bulbs
Always dispose of separately at collection points (e.g. supermarkets or recycling centers)
Electronics & appliances
Bulky waste collection or recycling center
Textiles
Clean and dry textiles can often be deposited in designated textile containers