Garbage

Deciphering the recycling bin code when relocating to Germany may pose a challenge to many whose encounter with recycling hitherto has been restricted to sorting paper and glass from the remainder of the refuse.

Most German garbage is separated into anywhere from four to six distinct bins, each corresponding to a particular type of waste - blue for paper, yellow for plastics, packaging and light metals, green for uncoloured glass (there may be a separate bin for coloured glass), grey with a brown lid for biological waste or compost (vegetable matter, egg shells, other edible leftovers, paper towels, etc ) and black for anything that may be left over. The idea is to have very little non-recyclable rubbish remaining. To reduce your recycling load, consider bringing home less packaging in the first place. Receptacles for this purpose are usually provided at most supermarkets.

If in doubt as to which refuse goes where, log on to the city garbage disposal company's website www.bsr-online.de/index.2.html ( BSR - Berliner Stadtreinigungsbetriebe ) - have a dictionary handy and click first on Dienstleistung, then on Abfallentsorgung und Recycling and finally on Ratgeber Abfall - click on the item in question and their computer does the rest.

Recycling

Since January 1, 2003, a compulsory deposit of 25 cents has been charged on all disposable drink packaging containing mineral water, beer and carbonated soft drinks. As of May 1, 2006, the deposit extends to all beverages sold in disposable bottles, irrespective of the type of packaging, i.e. cans, disposable glass and plastic bottles, so-called party cans (5-litre "barrels" or large tin cans) and 5-litre canisters.

Fruit juices and non carbonated juice-drinks, wine, sparkling wine, spirits and milk remain exempt from the compulsory deposit, however, mixed drinks containing spirits (such as vodka-lemonade) will no longer be exempt. Yoghurt, kefir and certain health drinks are also exempt.

Until April 30, 2006, there were several return systems for disposable drink packaging subject to deposit, not always compatible with one another. Now, you should be able to return disposable drink packaging to any large retailer (floor space over 200 square metres) that stocks drinks in similar packaging, regardless of where the item was bought, as long as the special UPC label is intact and the container is empty and unaltered. Deposit reimbursement can not be expected for packaging for which no deposit was originally charged.

The P-System

In this system, cans and disposable bottles are labelled with a "P". They are also stamped with an electronically recognisable barcode. The "P" return system is operated by the wholesaler Lekkerland-Tobaccoland in around 70,000 petrol stations, kiosks, department stores, supermarkets, bakers and drinks cash-and-carries. It thus covers nearly all sales outlets where customers purchase food and drink for immediate consumption.