Germany is a country that takes waste disposal seriously. This is reflected in the Waste Management Act (Kreislaufwirtschaftsgesetz) and in its fundamental five-level waste hierarchy, whereby waste prevention always has precedence over recycling, reuse and energy recovery. It also requires avoiding and minimising toxic waste.

In the Frankfurt region, the private company FES Frankfurter Entsorgungs-Abfallentsorgung in Frankfurt is responsible for collecting and sorting waste. Residual domestic and light commercial waste that resembles household waste is collected in residual waste bins, and then incinerated at a waste-to-energy plant, which produces electricity and heat for the city. Kitchen and green waste are disposed of bi-weekly in biowaste bins.

Smart Solutions for Waste Disposal in Frankfurt

Special waste, such as medicines, solvents and batteries, energy-saving lamps, fluorescent tubes, pesticides, half-emptied containers of paints and adhesives or special clothing items, must be taken to the local recycling depots (Recyclinghof) instead of being thrown away with household rubbish. They can be found by googling “Recyclinghof” and your municipality or town.

The city of Frankfurt is a very busy transport hub with many commuters, air passengers, trade fair visitors and hotel guests. This has created a unique set of priorities for the city, including waste disposal. It is a must that all residents and visitors comply with the trash separation rules and dispose of their garbage responsibly. If this is not done, fines can be imposed, and in extreme cases, the perpetrator may be jailed. It is forbidden to leave bulky rubbish, hazardous waste, electrical waste or old clothing items on the street or in nature, as this endangers human life and damage the environment.