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Pizza boxes in the paper bin? These are the worst mistakes in sorting waste

2020-08-28T09:37:19.698Z


Separating waste is actually very easy, at least everyone thinks. Because a lot of mistakes still happen. For example, pizza boxes do not belong in the paper bin.


Separating waste is actually very easy, at least everyone thinks. Because a lot of mistakes still happen. For example, pizza boxes do not belong in the paper bin.

  • Waste separation is important for the environment and climate .
  • Still, there are far too many errors in garbage disposal .
  • In particular, pizza boxes and receipts are constantly being disposed of incorrectly.

Offenbach - What exactly you should pay attention to when separating waste is not that easy. At least that's what many think. Basically, it's actually quite simple. There are seven categories according to which you can sort your garbage :

  • Organic waste
  • residual waste
  • Waste paper
  • Packaging waste
  • Waste glass
  • Bulky waste
  • Electronic waste

But in which bin does which garbage belong ? A lot of packaging in Germany still loads in the residual waste instead of in the yellow bag. According to the Federal Environment Agency , that is almost 40 percent. As a result, they end up in the waste incineration plants and not in recycling , where important resources are extracted from packaging and used for new ones. The wrong separation of the garbage damages our environment and the climate . This can also be a burden on your wallet. If you separate your garbage the wrong way, the garbage disposal may refuse to take it with you.

Do you separate your garbage correctly? The biggest mistakes in waste separation

According to a study by the Federal Environment Agency for Residential Waste in Germany, residual waste in Germany has almost halved for 35 years. Accordingly, many more recyclable materials such as glass, paper and plastic are separated nowadays. However, there are some errors that can be harmful to us and our environment. So what rubbish do you throw old magazines, food packaging or baking paper in?

Germany's residual waste has almost halved in 35 years. Much more recyclable materials such as glass, paper and plastic are now collected separately. Nevertheless, many recyclables still end up in the residual waste bin, although they don't belong there: https://t.co/QxQq4hsnS3 @Umweltbundesamt pic.twitter.com/tPEoyUB42E

- Federal Environment Ministry (@bmu) July 28, 2020

Waste separation: what really belongs in the waste paper bin?

Starting with the pizza boxes to old receipts . Many people throw this trash in their waste paper bins . This contributes to environmental protection, which is why you should pay particular attention to the separation of the garbage. There are often leftovers in pizza boxes. As a result, the cardboard boxes cannot be recycled and therefore belong in the residual waste and not as waste paper. The same goes for receipts as most are printed on thermal paper. This is coated with harmful bisphenol A (BPA) and therefore also belongs in the residual waste. Only a few supermarkets, especially those in the organic segment, pay attention to environmentally friendly paper. Sometimes you will find a small note on the back of the receipt if it is made of paper with the “Blue Angel” seal.

The quota of #waste paper used in paper production has risen sharply in recent years. At the same time, however, paper consumption rose. Therefore, when buying paper, it is still important to pay attention to #sustainability. #blauerengel But the waiver is even better. pic.twitter.com/nlapH8SLT8

- The Blue Angel (@UmweltEngel) August 7, 2020

Definitely not to waste paper also includes waste such as stickers, spotted bread bags, photos, food packaging, napkins and coated paper. This also includes baking paper. Because of the coating, it cannot dissolve in water. This means that baking paper also belongs in the residual waste.

So you should only throw garbage in the waste paper bin that can be recycled . This also includes: letters, newspapers and magazines, shredder scraps, catalogs as well as paper bags and egg cartons. Even with the latter, you should make sure that there are no residues in the box. Packaging and bags should be marked with the green dot , then you can be sure that you can throw it with the waste paper.

Organic wastePackaging wasteWaste glassWaste paper residual waste
Fruit and vegetable waste (including citrus fruits, banana and nut shells)Plastic such as foils, cups and styrofoamGlass bottles Cardboard and cardboard boxesHygiene items (e.g. handkerchiefs, sanitary towels, cotton balls)
Raw and cooked food and food scrapsMaterial mix (e.g. aluminum + paper) such as beverage cartons and milk cartonsCanning jarsNewspapers, magazines, catalogs Baby diapers
Coffee and tea grounds, filter bags, egg shellsMetal such as food and beverage cans books and exercise books Dust, ash, garbage
Green clippings and leavesFoamed plastics, e.g. B. fruit and vegetable packaging Cigarette butts
Kitchen towels, dishcloths and cleaning rags
Vacuum cleaner bags
Drinking glasses, porcelain, ceramics, all shards (including mirrors)

Waste separation: these are the biggest misconceptions about plastic and glass

Such errors do not only occur with waste paper when separating waste. Did you know that you shouldn't stack yoghurt pots before throwing them away, or that you shouldn't just throw away electronic waste with your household waste?

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Can I throw a pizza box in the trash? The most common mistakes in garbage disposal.

© Robert Schlesinger / dpa-Zentralbild / dpa

Especially with food packaging, such as yoghurt and quark pots, it is important to take care not to remove the lid and not to stack the containers. The Federal Environment Agency declares that the recyclable materials have to pass through the sorting systems individually. There is an automated separation of the different materials, however, interconnected material combinations are not considered.

Furthermore, when separating rubbish , you should make sure that not every glass can go into the waste glass container . This is only intended for food and beverage packaging as well as pharmaceutical and cosmetic containers. Broken glasses, broken mirrors and windows also belong in the residual waste. Otherwise it can happen that the waste glass is contaminated during melting.

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Start poster of the dual systems, which nationwide information campaign "waste separation works"

© www.mülltrichtung-Demokratie.de / dpa

Waste separation: what belongs in the residual waste?

And just in case there should still unclear: in the residual waste is used in the waste separation anything you could not dispose of the remaining tons. These include items that cannot be reused, such as diapers or vacuum cleaner bags, small plastic products such as old toothbrushes or pens, medical waste and cigarette butts. Electronic waste should not be disposed of with household waste, but should always be taken to a recycling center. (By Sarah Winter)

List of rubric lists: © Robert Schlesinger / dpa-Zentralbild / dpa

Source: merkur

All life articles on 2020-08-28

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