Spring brings new life to the garden. Everything is growing and blooming, and many people are getting back to work. Pruning, mowing, and tidying up often generate a considerable amount of garden waste. But not everything that comes out of the garden belongs in the vegetable, fruit, and garden waste (organic waste) or in the plastic packaging, metal packaging (cans), and beverage cartons (PMD). By disposing of garden waste correctly, we can all ensure a fresh and green start to spring.
Properly disposing of garden waste seems simple, but sometimes things still go wrong. Pebbles among vegetable, fruit, garden, and food waste (organic waste), large carrots in the organic waste container, or hard plastic in plastic, metal, and beverage cartons (PMD). This causes problems during collection and processing. That's why we're happy to explain what goes where and why. With this knowledge, you'll make things easier for yourself, and together we'll keep our resources clean.
Why proper separation is so important
Garden waste is valuable. If materials are collected separately, they can be reused. For example, we make compost from organic waste, and new products from hard plastic. But this only works if waste streams are not contaminated. If there is too much contamination, an entire load can be rejected and no longer processed. Your own container may also be left behind on collection day, because contaminated containers cannot be emptied. Therefore, it's important to dispose of materials correctly.
What do you have to pay attention to?
Small garden waste
Small garden waste can be placed in the organic waste bin. We process it into compost and green energy. Think of grass, weeds, leaves, plants, small twigs, and small amounts of soil or potting soil from flower pots.
Bulky garden waste? Take it to the recycling center
Bulky garden waste is often heavy, hard, or too large for the organic waste bin. It doesn't break easily and usually doesn't fit through the container's opening. Think of thick branches, large roots, pieces of wood, or tree stumps; these are not allowed in the organic waste bin. You can take these materials to the recycling center with your recycling pass. Broken flower pots, pebbles, and hydroponic clays don't belong in the organic waste bin. Dispose of them with the residual waste. This keeps the compost clean.
Be careful with soil, sand and garden soil
Larger amounts of soil, sand, or garden soil do not belong in the organic waste container, and you cannot take them to the recycling center either. They disrupt the composting process. Find out more:
What do you do with soil, sand and garden soil?
Plastic garden waste
Many types of plastic are found in gardens. Think of plant pots, cutting pots, garden chairs, rain barrels, and sometimes even pieces of foil or broken tools. Not all this plastic belongs in the same place. By properly separating it, we can reuse more and more materials, and collected raw materials remain clean.
- Plastic plant pots (packaging)
Many plastic plant pots and cutting pots are used for selling plants. They are easily recycled and therefore belong in the plastic, metal, and recycling bins. Make sure they are empty and as clean as possible. - Hard plastic from the garden
Hard plastic is a sturdy, solid material that isn't packaging. It shouldn't be disposed of as plastic packaging (PMD) or in the organic waste bin. Think of broken garden chairs, rain barrels, watering cans, flower boxes, garden storage boxes, and plastic garden baskets. You can take these items to the recycling center with your recycling pass.
Other waste from the garden
Not all garden waste is suitable for reuse or recycling. Some materials cannot be processed with organic waste (GFT) and do not belong in the PMD (PMD) collection system. These materials consist of stone, ceramics, or mixed materials and cannot be separated or shredded in the facilities. Therefore, dispose of these materials with the residual waste:
-
Broken ceramic and stone flower pots
-
Hydro granules
-
Loose stones
By disposing of this material with the residual waste, you prevent pollution and we keep the streams clean.
Good garden supplies? Give them a second life.
Many garden items you no longer need can still be used by someone else. So don't throw away items that are still in good condition. Pass them on to family, friends, or neighbors, place an ad in a giveaway corner, sell them online, or take them to a thrift store. Garden items often find a new home there.