In brief: The key rule for sorting household waste is: sort it correctly, don't sort it again. Focus on the four main categories: paper, glass, packaging and organic waste. Everything else is general waste. A clear system with separate bins placed where waste is generated makes sorting part of your routine and significantly increases the recycling rate.
Household Waste Sorting: The Simple Rule
A clear system saves time and helps protect the environment. This simple rule makes sorting easy.
Why is it worth sorting household waste correctly?
Proper recycling keeps materials in circulation. Old paper becomes new paper. Glass is turned into new glass. Plastics become granules for new products.
Every tonne of incorrectly sorted waste disrupts this process. It increases costs and reduces the amount that can be recovered. Your care makes a direct difference.
You also avoid unnecessary general waste charges. The more waste you sort separately, the less ends up in the black bin.
What is the simple rule?
Consistently separate the four main categories from one another: paper, glass, packaging and organic waste.
Anything that does not fit into these groups goes in the general waste. This clear boundary makes the decision easier every day.
Pro tip
Place collection bins where the waste is generated. A small paper bin by your desk and a food waste caddy in the kitchen reduce trips and make it easier to keep sorting.
Products such as those in the Garden + Outdoor section offer practical solutions for collecting waste outdoors.
The four main categories in detail
Paper and cardboard: Newspapers, magazines, cardboard boxes and writing paper. Do not include coated paper such as photographic paper or drinks cartons.
Glass: Drinks bottles and preserving jars. Sort by colour. Lids go separately in the yellow bin.
Packaging (yellow bin/bag): Packaging made from plastic, metal and composite materials. This includes yoghurt pots, cans and shampoo bottles.
Organic waste: Fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells and garden waste. Collect it in compostable paper bags.
Which bins are best for supporting waste sorting?
Choosing the right bin is crucial. It must suit the amount of waste you produce and be easy to clean.
A dual-compartment kitchen bin separates general waste and organic waste or packaging from the outset. Models such as the
or the provide this solution with two 25 L compartments.
For outdoor areas, large, sturdy bins are essential. In the Business Supplies section, you can often find suitable models for commercial or intensive domestic use.
The biggest obstacle to recycling is not knowledge but convenience. A well-designed collection system in the kitchen overcomes this obstacle.
Practical products for everyday use
Other products can also be useful alongside recycling bins. The
, a table mat set made from recycled wood, shows how waste can become attractive and useful items.
For gardening, which often produces organic waste and green cuttings, the Garden Tools section offers practical accessories such as composters and shredders.
Important note
Plastic bags have no place in organic waste. Even compostable plastic bags do not break down quickly enough in most composting facilities and have to be removed as contaminants. Use newspaper or special paper bags instead.
How should I deal with difficult types of waste?
Not all waste can be assigned easily. For these cases, you need clear guidelines.
Coated paper: Drinks cartons and till receipts made from thermal paper belong in general waste or, where provided locally, in the yellow bin.
Dirty packaging: Very dirty yoghurt pots or greasy aluminium trays belong in general waste so that the sorting facility is not contaminated.
Used medicines and e-waste: These belong neither in household waste nor in the recycling bin. Take them to a pharmacy or recycling centre.
The quality of recycled material depends on the cleanliness of separately collected waste. Every contaminant costs money and reduces its recyclability.
The role of reusable products and waste prevention
The best waste strategy is prevention. Choose reusable bottles instead of single-use ones.
Buy loose fruit and vegetables. Bring your own bags. These measures reduce the effort involved in sorting from the outset.
Sturdy nets and tarpaulins from the Tarpaulins + Nets section are suitable for shopping and transport and can be reused again and again.
Additional advice
Check your local regulations. The exact rules for yellow bins or the collection of hazardous waste may vary slightly from one local authority to another. Your local council or waste management company website will provide reliable information.
How do I establish the simple rule in my household?
Start by taking stock. What types of waste are generated, and where?
Then set up collection points. A small paper bin in your home office, a
as a double bin under the sink.
Explain the simple four-category system to everyone in your household. Make sorting waste second nature.
Check your general waste after one month. Has the volume gone down? Then your system is working.
Long-term benefits for your garden and the environment
Consistent waste sorting does more than protect global resources. It also has a direct impact on your garden.
Home compost made from food waste improves the soil. High-quality recycling reduces the energy needed to produce new goods.
In the Fertiliser section, you will find additional products for sustainable soil care that fit perfectly with the circular approach of recycling.
Put the simple rule into practice. You will create order, save money and make a tangible contribution to protecting the environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What mistakes do most people make when sorting waste?
- The most common mistake is mixing materials, such as putting coated paper in the paper recycling bin or dirty yogurt pots in the yellow recycling bag. “Wish-cycling”—putting items in the wrong bin in the hope that they will be recycled anyway—is also a problem. It contaminates recyclable materials.
- Do I need to rinse packaging before disposing of it?
- No, scraping it clean with a spoon is sufficient. Food residue should be removed, but thorough rinsing with hot water is unnecessary and wastes resources. For heavily soiled packaging, such as an oil canister, it is better to put it in the general waste to avoid disrupting the sorting facility.
- Do pizza boxes belong in the paper recycling bin?
- It depends on how dirty they are. If the box is greasy, put it in the general waste, as grease interferes with paper recycling. Clean, dry lids or pizza boxes without contamination can be separated and placed in paper recycling. When in doubt, remember: heavily soiled means general waste.
- What must never go in the organic waste bin?
- Plastic bags, including so-called compostable plastic bags, do not belong in the organic waste bin. They do not break down quickly enough. Ash, cat litter, vacuum cleaner bags and treated wood are also prohibited. These contaminants pollute valuable compost and must be laboriously removed.
- Can I recycle all types of glass together?
- No. Sort glass by colour: clear, brown and green glass belong in separate containers. Blue or red glass usually goes with green glass. Empty the glass containers, but put metal lids separately in the yellow recycling bin. Porcelain, window glass and drinking glasses do not belong in glass recycling containers; put them in the general waste instead.
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