Bonn has a very well developed system for waste collection where glass, paper, bio-degradable, etc. are separated. There are strict laws for waste disposal and fines for violating them. Plastic, metal, paper, compost and hazardous waste are collected separately and the tenant or homeowner pays the costs. For information in English or French you may contact a “waste advisor”; Tel.: (0228) 772 588

Bonn's Pickup Services

Yellow Bins Green Bins/Compostable Blue Bins/Paper Grey Bin/ Residual waste Sperrmull/ Bulk Items

These are used metal packaging, plastics, composites and natural materials, but no utensils. The packaging should be emptied, but are not rinsed.

 For example :, yogurt cups and lids, plastic bottles and cans of food (edible oil bottle, etc.), personal care products (shampoo bottles, etc.) and cleaning products (detergent, etc.), beverage cartons, pet food cans, wooden boxes and pharmaceutical blister.

What goes into the compost bin?

In principle: vegetable, untreated waste

  • from the kitchen: plaster remains of fruits and vegetables such as potato and apple peel, lettuce leaves, apple Kitsche, egg shells, coffee grounds, tea bags
  • Garden waste: faded flowers, grass and plant cuttings in small quantities, leaves, weeds, twigs 
  • Newsprint and paper kitchen towels to wrap wet Biobfällen as potato peelings or for insertion into the Vorsortiereimer
  • other compostable materials: eg sawdust from untreated wood, compostable pet litter of herbivorous small animals such as hamsters and rabbits (please wrapped in newspaper or paper bags, because unpacked scattering twirling in the collection)

What does not belong in the compost bin?

  • Waste of animal origin such as meat, sausage, bones, cheese
  • cooked and salted food waste such as bread, potato salad, cooked vegetables, stews
  • Liquids
  • Compostable plastic bags (eg from potato or cornstarch) and biodegradable plastics. Visually, they can not be distinguished from plastic bags and be as so. Perceived "misses".
  • Sweepings and vacuum cleaner bags
  • Cat and dog excrement
  • Cat litter or litter of carnivorous animals 

This is part of waste paper collection

  • Packaging paper and cardboard (eg cartons), cardboard boxes,
  • Newspapers, journals, magazines, catalogs,
  • Typing, copying, computer paper,
  • Books (fixed bindings please remove).

This does not belong in the waste paper collection

  • Milk and juice cartons (Yellow bin / yellow bag)
  • Hygiene waste, diapers (residual waste)
  • fax paper coated (residual waste)
  • soiled paper (eg, party plates: residual waste)
  • Binders (waste).

The gray bin (also called residual waste) is intended for the so-called non-recyclable waste. Residual waste includes:

Diapers, cigarette butts, dirty packaging, soiled napkins and paper towels, vacuum cleaner bags, Ash (cooled), sweepings, light bulbs, broken dishes, food waste from private households or small kitchens.

furniture, mattresses, bedsteads and bulky household items such as empty suitcase or laundry baskets. The articles must not weigh more than 75 kg each.

Please empty cabinets, chests of drawers, shelves, boxes and chests, because small stuff is not taken and will be duped on the sidewalk.

Please provide carpets rolled or folded for pickup.

 

Also garden furniture, flower boxes made ​​of plastic or metal, child seats, scooters, go karts, bulky children's toys (excluding electronics),- or swings.

Bonn Orange is the service provider for waste management in the Bonn area,  Check their A-Z list if you have questions about a particular item.  The site is only in German, but google translate can help you if you don't understand something.  The exact system differs from one municipality to another, so if you live outside Bonn check for variations.  How To Germany provides a starter guide for the general way things need to be separated.

All homes have a schedule when the different bins will be emptied.  Download your personalized 'Abfuhrtermine' from Bonn Orange

Electronic items can be taken to the sorting center near the Bad Godesburg Obi (opening times: Monday - Friday 8 to 17 clock)

Any clothes/shoes (clean and in good condition) that are unwanted can be put into the large bins with a Red Cross on them (or other signs e.g. Malteser Cross, etc.) These containers are usually found in car parks or just by the side of the road in your area.

Most bottles (even plastic ones) and drink cans have a deposit on them. Look for the word “Pfand” which will indicate that there is a deposit on the container. These can be returned to supermarkets or “Getränke” shops (drink merchants). Glass bottles without a deposit should be sorted into the roadside containers according to color.