News, Guides & Expert Knowledge – Wheelie Bins & Waste Containers | W-Weber

Correct waste separation is one of the simplest and most effective contributions any household or business can make to environmental protection. In Germany, four main bins are provided in most municipalities: the grey (or black) residual-waste bin, the blue paper bin, the yellow bin or yellow sack for lightweight packaging, and the brown or green organic-waste bin.

WASTE SEPARATION: Which waste belongs in the compost bin?
In Germany, the compost bin is usually the green or brown waste container. Vegetable kitchen waste and garden waste are generally disposed of there. Depending on the municipality, there may be different regulations — this depends on how the organic waste is then to be recycled. In some municipalities, edible fats, oils or animal foods are also permitted; these otherwise generally do not belong in the organic waste stream. You should also refrain from disposing of thicker wood from the garden in the organic waste bin — a municipal green waste facility is more appropriate.
Please DO NOT dispose of animal excrement, ash, treated wood (varnished, etc.), stones and plastics in organic waste. For more detailed information, we recommend visiting the website of the disposal company or contacting the municipal waste advice service (cf. Consumer Center).
You will find a large selection of 2-wheeled and 4-wheeled waste bins in various colours in our Weber online shop!

WASTE SEPARATION: What kind of waste belongs in the yellow bin / yellow sack?
As a simple principle it can be said that all packaging that is not made of paper or glass should be disposed of in the yellow bin or bag in Germany. These are so-called "lightweight packaging", which consists of plastic, metal and composites as well as natural materials. Examples include plastic bags, plastic sausage, cheese and ice cream packaging, plastic cups, plastic cosmetic packaging, aluminium foil and tin cans. Please do NOT dispose of any toys, electronic devices, leftover food, toothbrushes, glass, etc. in the yellow bin (cf. T-Online). However, there may also be regional differences, so we recommend contacting the appropriate disposal company if you have any questions.
You will find a large selection of 2-wheeled and 4-wheeled waste bins in various colours in our Weber online shop!

WASTE SEPARATION: What kind of waste belongs in the blue bin?
Only paper, cardboard and boxes belong in the blue waste bin ("paper bin"). With regard to paper recycling, it is important to ensure that the waste paper is disposed of carefully and according to type. Only in this way can a high value of the raw material for paper recycling, and ultimately a high-quality end product, be guaranteed. With a share of 75%, waste paper is the most important raw material for the paper industry (cf. Der Grüne Punkt).
Please dispose of newspapers/magazines, brochures, paper bags, cardboard packaging and egg cartons in the blue bin. However, receipts usually do NOT belong in the paper bin, as they are often made from thermal paper containing bisphenol A (cf. Stern).
You will find a large selection of 2-wheeled and 4-wheeled waste bins in various colours in our Weber online shop!

WASTE SEPARATION: What kind of waste belongs in the grey bin?
In Germany, the grey bin is used to collect residual waste — the leftovers which remain after correct waste separation into the other bins. This includes ashes, animal droppings and bedding, soiled papers, hygiene articles and nappies, vacuum cleaner bags, defective light bulbs, dried-out felt-tip pens, cigarette butts, old photos, broken porcelain or glass and — if you don't have a recycling bin yet — also broken plastic or household items (cf. Consumer Center).
However, construction and demolition waste, old electrical equipment, pollutants, bulky waste, leftover fruit and vegetables or packaging do NOT belong in the grey bin (cf. T-Online).
You will find a large selection of 2-wheeled and 4-wheeled waste bins in various colours in our Weber online shop!

In some cities in Germany, the so-called recycling bin (Wertstofftonne) is used instead of the yellow bin/yellow sack. These cities include Dortmund, Kamen and Unna, for example. The difference is this: in contrast to the yellow bin, not only packaging made of plastic, metal or composite materials (e.g. beverage cartons) can be disposed of in the recycling bin, but also waste from the category "non-packaging of the same material". This includes, for example, damaged plastic mixing bowls, a used toothbrush or a disused saucepan. The aim is to no longer dispose of waste made of plastic, metal or composite material in the residual waste bin — it should be collected separately as a recyclable material.

In some cities, even waste wood and/or smaller electronic devices are to be collected in the recycling bin. In order to find out the exact regulations in your city, you can visit the website of your disposal company or contact the local waste advice service (cf. Consumer Center).
A large selection of 2-wheeled and 4-wheeled waste bins / recycling bins in various colours can be found in our Weber online shop!

Choosing the right bin capacity avoids two common problems: an overflowing container that creates hygiene issues and potential extra charges, or an oversized bin that takes up unnecessary space and costs more than the job requires. The right answer depends on the number of occupants, the collection frequency set by your municipality and the type of waste being collected.

Private households: As a general guide, a 60–80 litre residual-waste bin is adequate for one or two people with weekly collection. A family of three or four typically needs between 120 and 240 litres. Larger households or multi-occupancy buildings often share 660, 770 or 1,100-litre containers.

Commercial premises and industry: Offices, manufacturing sites, schools, hospitals and logistics hubs produce considerably higher volumes of waste and generally require containers in the 660–1,100 litre range. Weber's mobile large-volume containers are designed for mechanical emptying by standard collection vehicles and meet the requirements of DIN EN 840.

Check your local regulations: Many German municipalities specify which bin sizes are permitted under their waste management regulations. Before ordering new containers, confirm the accepted sizes with the responsible waste authority, as non-compliant bins may not be emptied.

Weber GmbH & Co. KG manufactures mobile waste containers from 10 to 1,100 litres, all produced by injection moulding from high-molecular-weight HDPE — UV-stable and resistant to cold, heat and chemicals. See our full range: mobile waste containers by volume.

A regularly cleaned wheelie bin keeps unpleasant odours under control, prevents insects and vermin from taking up residence, and extends the working life of the container. Yet many households and businesses overlook this straightforward maintenance step entirely.

How often should bins be cleaned? Residual-waste bins benefit from a thorough clean at least twice a year — ideally in spring and at the end of summer when heat accelerates bacterial growth. Organic-waste bins need more frequent attention: a monthly wash-out is a sensible minimum.

Step-by-step cleaning routine: After collection day, when the bin is empty, rinse the interior thoroughly with a garden hose. Then scrub with warm water and a general household cleaner or a diluted white-vinegar solution. A stiff brush helps dislodge stubborn residues. Allow the bin to air dry completely — ideally upside-down in the sun — before inserting a new liner bag.

Keeping odours at bay: A layer of bicarbonate of soda, dry coffee grounds or crumpled newspaper on the base absorbs moisture and neutralises smells. Always tie bin bags securely before placing them in the container. The HDPE material used in all Weber containers has a smooth inner surface that resists adhesion of waste residues, making cleaning straightforward.

The Weber 1,100 L domed lid bin with lid-in-lid system can be equipped with an automatic gravity lock 2350, which securely locks both the main and front lid. A freely-selectable numerical code, or the corresponding key, can be used to open the front lid separately. During the emptying process, however, automatic unlocking takes place. When the front lid is closed, both locks engage automatically.

The front lid of the 1,100 L container can be supplied in blue, green, yellow, brown and is also available in standard grey. The gravity lock can be retrofitted to existing containers or optionally integrated directly into new production. Our goal is to ensure comfortable, user-friendly and safe use for all our customers.

Why lock a wheelie bin? Unauthorised use of waste containers — sometimes called "bin tourism" — is a widespread problem across Germany. Neighbours, passers-by or construction teams filling a bin they do not pay for can leave the rightful user with a full container before collection day, potential surcharges for excess weight, and in some cases even hazardous material left behind. Medical facilities and laboratories also have a legal obligation to prevent unauthorised access to certain waste categories.

Legal position: Filling a container that belongs to another party without permission constitutes a civil offence (Ordnungswidrigkeit) under German law and may attract a fine. A demonstrably secured bin strengthens the owner's position considerably in any dispute.

More information: Weber 1,100 L wheelie bin — domed lid with DiD system.

To find out when the bins (grey, blue, yellow and brown) on your street in any German city are emptied, you can quickly and easily find your city or municipality's waste calendar using any search engine such as Google or Bing. Weber has its headquarters in Haan, North Rhine-Westphalia, for example. A detailed annual plan can be viewed on the city administration's website by searching for "waste calendar + Haan". So, you are guaranteed to never miss the next emptying of your waste bins again!

Typical collection intervals: Residual-waste bins are collected every two weeks in most areas, or weekly in high-density urban zones. Organic-waste bins are usually collected weekly, dropping to fortnightly in winter months. Paper and lightweight-packaging bins follow fortnightly or monthly cycles depending on the municipality.

Public holidays and disruptions: Legal public holidays shift collection days by one or more days — these exceptions are usually marked clearly in the waste calendar. Severe weather or extraordinary events can lead to temporary schedule changes announced through local authority websites and apps.

In the coalition agreement of the German federal government, consisting of the three parties SPD, die Grünen and FDP, the issue of the circular economy within the plastics industry was represented in a separate paragraph. The three large plastics associations — GKV Gesamtverband Kunststoffverarbeitende Industrie, Plastics Europe Germany and VDMA Fachverband Kunststoff- und Gummimaschinen — came to the conclusion that the content of this important topic had been well covered overall. Despite certain points of criticism, its great importance for more sustainability and climate protection was recognised and appreciated. The central goals on this path are the reduction of primary raw material consumption and the promotion of closed material cycles (cf. Kunststoff-Magazin).

As a major producer of waste containers and bins, Weber GmbH & Co. KG clearly supports this goal. In many of our products we already process recycled content and plan to expand this even further.

What the circular economy means in practice: The circular economy is an approach to production and consumption in which products, materials and resources are kept in use for as long as possible. Rather than the traditional linear model — extract, manufacture, discard — circularity aims to eliminate waste at source, keep products and materials in circulation through repair, reuse and recycling, and regenerate natural systems. The Circular Economy Act (Kreislaufwirtschaftsgesetz, KrWG) establishes a clear hierarchy in Germany: avoidance first, then reuse, then recycling, then energy recovery, then disposal.

Increase in the recycling rate in Germany: The recycling quotas for plastics, paper and glass required by the Packaging Act in Germany were all exceeded. In general, the recycling rate of the waste collected in yellow bins was over 50.5%, meeting the statutory 50% target. The expected recycling rates of 82.4% and 90.6% were also exceeded with regard to glass and paper packaging respectively. Furthermore, the recycling rates for plastic packaging at 60.6%, for composites at 62.6% and for beverage cartons at 76% also exceeded the respective statutory quotas (cf. EUWID).

With the waste bins and containers available from Weber, we support sustainable waste separation and help ensure that quotas are met!

The role of recycling and waste separation in CO₂ savings: The European Economic Service reported on results of a study by the consulting firms Prognos and CE Delft on behalf of the European Waste Disposal Association FEAD, the Plant Operator Association Cewep, the Dutch Waste Management Association and the RDF Industry Group. It was found that the circular economy still has significant potential for CO₂ savings. The climate protection potential in the waste management industry has therefore not yet been fully exhausted. Ideally, with an improved recycling rate and increased thermal utilisation, CO₂ emissions in the EU can be reduced by 283 million CO₂ equivalents per year by 2035 compared to 2018 levels. Since the 27 EU members together emitted around 3.76 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2018, this would represent a decrease of almost 7.5% (cf. EUWID).

The German Packaging Act (VerpackG): The Packaging Act is the principal legal framework governing packaging disposal and recycling in Germany. Any business that supplies packaged products to end consumers in Germany — whether via a physical shop or an online store — must participate in a licensed dual system and register on the LUCID packaging register operated by the Stiftung Zentrales Verpackungsregister (ZSVR). The Act prescribes minimum recycling rates for each packaging material category, periodically tightened to align with EU targets.

Plastic reusable packaging has no ecological advantage compared to corrugated cardboard: In a study commissioned by The Paper Industry Association and the Corrugated Board Industry Association, the Bifa Environmental Institute and the Paper Technology Foundation (PTS) came to the interesting conclusion that reusable plastic packaging has no general environmental advantage over disposable corrugated cardboard packaging when it comes to greenhouse-gas balance. Based on this knowledge, it must always be assessed on a case-by-case basis which outer packaging makes more sense with regard to environmental balance. For example, packaging made of corrugated cardboard can be better used for impact-sensitive products from the point of view of greenhouse-gas accounting, compared to robust and significantly heavier plastic boxes in the reusable system (cf. EUWID).

More and more German cities are planning to introduce a zero-waste city concept for better environmental protection and resource conservation. The Europe-wide certification of cities is managed via the "Zero Waste Europe" (ZWE) network. While the city of Kiel in northern Germany is already an official candidate, Munich and Cologne are still developing the concept. Berlin has presented an action plan. Düsseldorf, Leipzig and Würzburg also show some interest in this regard. 445 cities and municipalities in Europe are currently certified (cf. EUWID).

Zero Waste is defined by the Zero Waste International Alliance as "The conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without burning and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health." Waste should therefore be avoided whenever possible, or should not arise at all. Principles such as recycling, composting and reuse are the focus, which we at Weber want to promote with our products in the best possible way.

Practical household steps: Refuse what you don't need, reduce consumption, reuse products, recycle materials and compost organic waste. Use reusable containers and bags instead of single-use packaging, and shop consciously to avoid food waste. None of these steps requires a radical lifestyle change — the cumulative effect of many small decisions drives measurable change at scale.

How does plastic recycling work?
Recycling within the meaning of the Circular Economy Act (KrWG) is "any recovery process by which waste is processed into products, materials or substances, either for the original purpose or for other purposes; it includes the processing of organic materials, but not energy recovery and processing into materials which are intended for use as fuel or for backfilling" (§ 3 para. 25 KrWG).
Recycling includes both material processes (dry/wet mechanical processing or solvent-based processes) and chemical or raw material processes (pyrolysis, gasification, liquefaction) (cf. Vogel et al.).
Plastics are usually recycled using mechanical processes as part of material recycling. Plastic waste is grouped according to the type of plastic, cleaned, melted down and, as an intermediate step, processed into recyclates. These in turn form the starting material for new goods that now have a recycled content and do not consist entirely of new material (cf. NABU). Weber GmbH & Co. KG already incorporates recycled content into a number of its container lines.

Recycling vs. incineration with CO₂ capture of plastic waste:
In the "Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management", emeritus Professor Paul Brunner and Johann Fellner from the Institute for Water Quality and Resource Management at TU Vienna described the thesis that recycling is not the most sustainable disposal method for all plastic waste. Incineration with CO₂ capture should often be considered as a better solution. The main goals of waste management are not to achieve the highest possible recycling rate, but to protect people and the environment and conserve resources for the future.
Greater environmental benefits are not uncommon in thermal recycling with CO₂ separation, since overall fewer CO₂ emissions are released into the atmosphere and fewer hazardous substances are released into the environment. Incineration also reduces the stock of old plastics in society and is more cost-efficient than the recycling of plastics (cf. Fellner & Brunner). The decision for the most sustainable approach should always be based on scientific evidence.

NEWS: No use of biodegradable plastic bags in organic waste collection according to German Federal Council committees:
The use of biodegradable plastic bags for the collection of biowaste was rejected by the German Federal Council (Bundesrat) committees in the parliamentary procedure for the small amendment to the Biowaste Ordinance (BioAbfV). The Federal Council committees see the justification in the experience gained with these bags made of biodegradable plastics.
The committee recommendations state that even simple regulations, such as "do not throw any plastic in the organic waste bin", were often not sufficiently adhered to in the past, despite extensive public relations work. There are therefore great doubts about the feasibility of these bags and the monitoring required in practice. In addition, biodegradable plastics from predominantly renewable raw materials have no positive value for biological treatment or for the product produced. Some of these bags continue to cause problems in some treatment plants (cf. EUWID).

Medical facilities such as hospitals, clinics, outpatient practices and medical laboratories generate waste in high volumes and under stringent hygiene conditions. Safe, legally compliant handling of clinical waste is not merely an environmental consideration — it is a direct patient-safety issue.

Clinical waste bins for hospitals: Intensive care patients generate large amounts of daily medical waste and infectious waste that must be kept controlled. The pandemic period made this particularly visible: the volume of general medical waste, personal protective equipment and other single-use items saw sharp increases. Weber can make a contribution here with our clinical and hospital waste containers.

Disposal containers for syringes in vaccination centres and medical practices: Billions of vaccine doses have been administered worldwide. Used needles or syringes are classified as waste from pointed and sharp instruments/objects and must not enter the general waste stream (cf. Giern). At Weber, we offer a range of disposal containers for (bio)medical waste from clinics, hospitals and vaccination centres. Our yellow, red or orange disposal containers, which can also be used as hazardous material containers, are lockable, leak-proof and are available in sizes of 360, 660, 770 and 1,100 litres.

Full details: medical waste containers from Weber.

News: Listing of the Weber 660 L bin with "lid in lid" feature:
New to the Weber product range is the 660 L bin with a "lid in lid" (DiD) feature. Our goal is to offer all our customers the greatest possible convenience for their waste disposal. That is why we are expanding our 660 L bin range with a "lid in lid" option.
Smaller refuse bags or loose waste can be disposed of quickly and easily via the front lid without having to lift the larger main lid. If desired, this integrated lid can be supplied in a number of colour options.

News: Listing of the Weber 770 L bin with "lid in lid" feature:
As well as the 660 L bin, the Weber 770 L container is also given an optional upgrade with a "lid in lid" version. Our bins are used in many different branches of industry, in offices, in public facilities, schools, etc. The small insert lid allows you to easily dispose of your waste in any situation.

These containers are also well suited for schools, kindergartens and public buildings where a well-planned bin setup serves both logistics and environmental education purposes.

See: 660 L mobile garbage bins · 770 L mobile garbage bins

Commercial premises, manufacturing sites, logistics centres and large residential complexes all need waste containers that go well beyond standard household wheelie bins. Weber GmbH & Co. KG produces mobile large-volume containers in the standard sizes of 660, 770 and 1,100 litres — all manufactured to DIN EN 840 and ready for mechanical emptying by standard collection vehicles.

660-litre container: Suitable for medium-sized businesses, apartment blocks and industrial sites. Available as a standard waste container or as a recycling container with the DiD feature.

770-litre container: Provides additional capacity for higher-volume sites. Also available in a DiD variant and a wide choice of colours.

1,100-litre container: Nominal volume 1,100 litres, rated payload up to 440 kg — available with flat lid (FD) or domed lid (RD), with or without the DiD system, and optionally with an automatic gravity lock.

See: 660 L · 770 L · 1,100 L round lid · 1,100 L flat lid

Anyone specifying or procuring wheelie bins and mobile waste containers professionally will encounter the designation "DIN EN 840". This European standard is the most important quality and compatibility framework in the industry.

What DIN EN 840 covers: The standard defines the precise external dimensions and internal volumes, the rated payload, permitted colours and their designations, labelling requirements, and the geometry of the emptying mechanism — the toothed comb bar and its engagement with collection vehicle lifting systems. A container that meets DIN EN 840 will be reliably emptied by any standard collection vehicle designed to the same specification.

Why compliance matters: Non-compliant containers may be refused collection entirely, or their emptying may cause damage to collection vehicle equipment. For municipal authorities, housing associations and large commercial operators, DIN EN 840 compliance is the baseline requirement.

RAL GZ 951/1: Complementing DIN EN 840, the RAL quality mark 951/1 sets minimum performance requirements for material quality, manufacturing tolerances and service life — awarded only after independent testing and periodic audits.

Every container manufactured by Weber GmbH & Co. KG meets both DIN EN 840 and RAL GZ 951/1 — audited at our manufacturing facility in Haan. More: Weber — certified wheelie bin manufacturer.

The meta-study by the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) on behalf of the environmental protection organisation World Wildlife Foundation (WWF), examined plastic pollution in the oceans. Overall, the results of 2,592 separate studies were included in the meta-study. The worrying conclusion is that plastic has already made its way into almost every aspect of marine life, and littering is set to increase even further.

Marine animals can become entangled in plastic waste or lose their habitat as a result. Floating layers of plastic can prevent sufficient oxygen or light from prevailing. In particular, the smallest plastic particles are considered extremely dangerous. The macroplastic first decomposes into microplastic and then into nanoplastic, which is ingested by even the smallest creatures. Ecosystems and food chains are thus permanently damaged. This decomposition makes it very difficult to clear the oceans of waste (cf. Tekman et al.).

More plastic waste worldwide: According to the study results of the "Chinese Academy of Sciences", published in the scientific journal PNAS, a pandemic caused around 8.4 million tonnes of plastic waste worldwide in a total of 193 states. This corresponds to almost 3% of the total amount of plastic waste in the world, which comprises around 300 million tonnes. 87% of plastic waste is generated in hospitals. Masks and protective equipment account for 7.6%. Around 5% can be attributed to the growth of online shopping. Against the background of global environmental pollution, these are worrying numbers — 25,000 tonnes of this plastic waste have already ended up in the oceans (cf. EUWID). This illustrates the high, general importance of an appropriate, sustainable approach to single-use plastic.

Closed waste collection systems — anchored by adequate container provision — are a foundational element of any credible strategy to reduce ocean plastics. Every correctly separated bag of plastic packaging is one that stays in the recycling loop rather than finding its way into natural waterways.

In Germany, more than 12 million tonnes — and according to the environmental organisation WWF, possibly as many as 18 million tonnes — of food are thrown away in waste containers every year, quite often including food that does not have to be thrown away because it is still edible. There are usually legal hurdles that prevent the consumption of these still-edible foods. Private households contribute around 6 million tonnes to this waste. However, it is also the grocers, supermarkets, discounters, etc. who are largely responsible. The main cause lies in the question of liability with regard to foodstuffs whose best-before date has passed (cf. Thürmer & Schuster).

The full cost: Every discarded meal represents not just the food itself, but all the water, energy, land, transport and labour that went into producing it. Food production accounts for a large share of global greenhouse-gas emissions and freshwater consumption. Wasting food therefore amplifies all of these impacts.

Tips for households: Plan meals before shopping and write a list; understand the difference between "best before" (a quality indicator) and "use by" (a safety indicator); use freezers to extend the life of perishables; repurpose leftovers. Good kitchen organisation with adequate storage makes a tangible difference to how much food ends up in the waste bin.

Until the end of the 1970s in Germany, little was done to separate waste. Only through increasing concerns about the environment and health did society rethink. After the waste had previously been stored carelessly and unseparated, Hanover took on a pioneering role in the first approaches to waste separation by initially setting up glass collection containers in the city. The first waste paper containers also followed in the early 1980s, allowing glass and paper to be processed and reused as valuable raw materials from then on. This trend subsequently spread across the country.

At the beginning of the 1990s, the topic of plastic and lightweight packaging increasingly came into focus. The Green Dot was introduced together with the German Packaging Regulations. From then on, packaging marked in this way had to be disposed of in the yellow sack and companies had to undertake to take back packaging and help with its disposal. This is how the Dual System came about. Organic waste has also been treated separately for a number of years now (cf. Kühl).

Weber GmbH & Co. KG has been manufacturing wheelie bins and mobile waste containers throughout this entire period — our products have been part of this infrastructure at every stage of Germany's waste separation journey.

In order to better protect our environment and resources, there is potential for optimisation in almost every branch of industry. The textile industry, for example, is unfortunately often referred to as "production for waste".

Every year around 100 billion new items of clothing are manufactured worldwide, favoured by the "fast fashion" trend. Garments are therefore being produced more and more cheaply and quickly, and unfortunately often thrown away after just one or two uses. The poor quality of the goods also prevents further use — this creates large amounts of waste that cannot be recycled. According to a study by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, only just under 12% of the 100 billion items of clothing produced worldwide each year are returned to the economic cycle (cf. Glitza).

Repair cafés, clothing libraries, resale platforms and brand take-back schemes are all growing, but from a small base. The German Federal Environment Foundation (DBU) actively funds research into closed textile cycles (cf. Glitza). Robust and well-maintained collection infrastructure — including clearly labelled, accessible textile-collection containers — remains essential for capturing those materials that do become available for reuse.

Online shopping is becoming increasingly important in consumer behaviour. However, this is accompanied by large amounts of packaging waste. Individual, high-quality and complex packaging, as well as new packaging for returns, have a negative impact on the environmental balance and generate waste from paper, cardboard (PPK) and plastic (cf. Consumer Center).

For these cases, Weber offers qualitative product solutions in the form of large-volume waste bins. Nevertheless, it is important for us to emphasise that unnecessary waste should not be created in the first place. With regard to online shopping, spontaneous individual orders should be avoided if possible and, also if possible, the majority of items should be shipped in reusable containers (cf. Consumer Center).

The recyclability upside: Cardboard and paper are among the most successfully recycled packaging materials in Germany. Waste paper provides 75% of the raw material used by the German paper industry (cf. Der Grüne Punkt). Every correctly sorted cardboard box placed in the blue bin rather than the residual-waste bin is a material recovered. The challenge is not the material's recyclability — it is ensuring that the collection infrastructure keeps pace with growing volumes.

Weber's 240 L, 360 L and 660 L containers are well suited to high-volume paper and cardboard collection at distribution centres, postal hubs and residential buildings with high parcel turnover.

Heavy rain and the resulting flooding in Germany — especially in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate — caused one of the worst storm catastrophes of the post-war period. The extent of the damage was so great that the federal government issued an emergency aid package of 400 million Euros, with long-term costs running to billions for repairing destroyed transport infrastructure. The flood left behind destroyed livelihoods and huge mountains of debris. The clean-up work began shortly after the water had largely receded. Large waste containers and rubbish bins were needed to efficiently collect and dispose of more than 300,000 tonnes of waste (cf. mdr; EUWID).

As a result, the influence of climate change on the occurrence of such catastrophes is rightly discussed. Preventive measures must be taken to protect the environment and the climate. Sustainable production of our refuse and waste containers is one of the central goals of Weber GmbH & Co. KG.

Freighter "Ever Given" blocked the Suez Canal — waste bin export impact:
When the container ship "Ever Given" ran aground in the Suez Canal, the canal was completely blocked, which led to delays or failures in the global flow of goods. 18,300 containers were distributed over the 400-metre length of the ship. Hundreds of freighters were unable to pass through the canal for days (cf. tagesschau).

Weber uses ship freight to export our waste containers and bins worldwide. The situation was closely monitored internally and solutions were developed to deliver our waste containers to our customers around the world as quickly as possible. This incident illustrates the global reach of Weber's product distribution and the resilience required in modern supply chain management.

Disposal of rapid test kits in the residual waste bin:
Most rapid tests for private individuals are nasal antigen tests — they work via a nasal swab or spit test. A test kit usually contains a swab, a test cassette and a reaction tube or bottle with the appropriate solution. After the test has been carried out, all components, regardless of the result, must be safely packed in a stable and sealable plastic bag and disposed of in the residual waste bin. Even though the components are mostly made of plastic, they do not belong in the respective bin for plastics recycling. Only plastic packaging goes there. Package inserts and instructions for use can be disposed of separately in the waste paper bin. Test kits should be incinerated safely with other residual waste and thus disposed of hygienically (cf. Marberg & Subklew).

Influence of changed habits on waste disposal in German households:
Various changes in waste disposal in German households have been observed in periods of increased home-working and online shopping. Notable trends include neglected waste separation and above-average increases in the amount and volume of waste. Organic waste in particular has increased. In total, 19 kilograms more waste per capita was generated in the first year of such habit changes compared to the year before. Organic waste represents a significant proportion with an increase of around 4 kilograms per person (cf. Federal Statistical Office). Residual waste (34%) and separately-collected recyclables (32%) each account for around one third of household waste. With 27%, organic waste is in third place.

Together with international test organisations, Stiftung Warentest carried out a representative survey in 14 countries, each with 1,000 people. The participants were asked to assess how high the impact of the 5 subject areas "Travel and Mobility", "Purchasing Behaviour", "Water and Energy in the Household", "Nutrition" and "Waste Disposal" is on the environment. The results were then compared to the assessments of 39 international sustainability experts. Here are some assessments from Germany at a glance (cf. Stiftung Warentest):

Travel & mobility: 45% of those surveyed consider the environmental impact to be medium to very unimportant. However, according to experts and the Federal Environment Agency, mobility behaviour is responsible for about 19% of the CO₂ footprint of people in the country. Tourism also caused around 8% of all greenhouse-gas emissions.

Diet: According to experts, diet is the most important factor. In Germany, food accounts for an average of 15% of each person's carbon footprint, as many animal products are consumed. This was greatly underestimated by the respondents.

Waste disposal: According to 71% of the participants, waste disposal is a rather important environmental factor. According to the experts, however, conscientious waste separation does not have that much of an impact on the environment. Above all, avoiding waste in the first place is even more crucial.

This finding aligns closely with the Zero Waste philosophy and the waste hierarchy in the KrWG: avoidance first, separation and recycling second.