Hi everyone,

I’ve just moved to Germany and I’m learning how to recycle. I have a couple questions I hope you can help me with.

Stuff like the hummus package in the picture goes to the yellow trash, right?

Bubble wrap and the like goes to yellow?

And if I have sanitary waste (used toilet paper in this case) does the plastic bag that I put them in goes to the black trash or do I empty it in the black one and take the bag itself to the yellow trash? Also same question but for organic waste instead of sanitary one.

Sorry for such basic questions, I’ve never lived in a city with recycling before and I’m still learning.

Also, any tips and tricks about recycling and waste management in your home would be very much appreciated.

Thank you!

[Hummus Package](https://i2.wp.com/www.melaniecooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/costco-individual-hummus2.jpg) (I’m talking about the package itself, the hummus if I need to throw it away, goes to the organic trash)

4 comments

  1. Eat the hummus, then throw the cup into yellow.

    Bubble wrap goes to yellow or you could keep it.

    Toilet paper goes into the toilet.

  2. > used toilet paper

    Toilet paper (the normal rolls, not the wet wipes) are specifically meant to break down in water. You throw it in the toilet.

  3. The trash bags you use for the black bin (toilet paper, as has been pointed out, goes into the toilet) stay in the black bin.

    Do *not* put plastic into organic waste. There are those supposedly biodegradable bags for organic waste, but AFAIK the waste disposal systems in some municipalities don’t want people to put them in because that doesn’t work in their processes.

  4. The yellow bin/bag is for any packaging you got with something you bought, that isn’t paper or glass.
    Toilet paper (only the dry ones) would go in the toilet, other sanitary waste (like baby wipes or tampons) go in the black bin, cause there isn’t a special bin for them.

    You may check the rules of your city. Sometimes you may use the “compostable” plastic bags for your organic waste and sometimes not. They also probably have lists of what goes where.

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