Whether you are new to the area, been here a while or just need a refresher on getting rid of your trash, please read on:
WHO – Everyone. Household and commercial recycling was mandated in Germany in1993. Americans living in Germany, whether living on base or on the economy, must recycle.
WHAT – Most of our trash is recyclable, leaving only about 20 percent non-recyclable trash or “Restmüll.” Recyclable trash is paper and cardboard in one container, plastics and light metals in the “Gelbe Sack,” or yellow bag, glass in another container and biodegradable wastes in another. After that, most of our non-recyclable residual wastes go into the normal trash. The exceptions are your household hazardous items, such as household cleaning products, dry batteries, outdoor chemicals and auto-care items. Most household hazard items can be accepted at KMC recycling centers.
WHEN – Trash and recycling throughout the community is set for pick up on different days and frequencies. For example, my trash and recyclables are picked up on alternating Wednesdays – on the first Wednesday, paper, cardboard and yellow bags are picked up. On the second Wednesday, only trash is picked up. Check with your landlord, neighbors or the waste company to verify what is picked up on what days in your area.
WHERE – Off-post/base, your weekly pickup is done at the curb in front of your house or from your established collection point for those living in apartments. On-post/base offers curbside pickup for some items, common area dumpsters for others and many items can be taken to the military recycling centers; however, the military recycling centers are not for everyday or off-post refuse disposal.
WHY – It’s the law. Recycling was mandated by German law because they had no more space in landfills. Recycling helps protect the environment in many ways – not the least of which are conserving natural resources for future generations and minimizing landfill space requirements. Also, it’s the right thing to do, and U.S. forces must comply whether on- or off-duty, and whether living on or off our military installations.
HOW – Utilize various collection systems, waste bins and bags and pick-up points for on- and off-base residents.
OTHER – The types of waste bins offered in your community may vary since some communities separate waste more or less than others. You may have bins or bags for paper, light fractions, trash, biodegradable wastes, plus they may also collect glass in “gray bags.” Ask your landlord, neighbors or the German-American Community Office to help determine what wastes to put out on what days. In Kaiserslautern, GACO can be very helpful for city and outlying village pickup information. Call 0631-363-3010 for more information. The Housing Referral Office can also be helpful in finding appropriate contact information for your area.
• Bulk items and special waste: These items may require planning and extra effort.
• Moving boxes: Moving companies are usually required under their contracts to remove boxes and packing materials.
• Old furniture, appliances and household bulk items: On-post residents can use the recycling centers that offer bulk-waste containers. Off-post residents may call 0631-7105-449 to arrange for bulk item removal. A few villages still have “Sperrmüll,” or junk night, where items can be placed at the curb for next-day removal. Sperrmüll is being phased out in some areas of the KMC.
• Used tires: this usually requires paying for disposal at the outlet where you purchased or mounted your new tires. Use this service because accumulated tires quickly become a hard to handle nuisance. Some KMC recycling centers can accept waste tires without rims. Military auto skills centers and the Ramstein Air Base Auto Recycling Center charge a nominal fee to accept waste tires.
• Household hazards: Items such as flashlight batteries, waste paint cans, oily rags and other items that could be dangerous if not properly handled and disposed of. They should not be put in with recycling or regular trash. Most KMC recycling centers have containers for household hazard items.
ABOUT BIN SIZING – Off-post, if you’ve taken over a house or apartment from another family larger or smaller then your own, your trash cans may need to be re-sized. Your monthly trash bill is based on the size or capacity of your bins. If they are larger than you need, you’ll be paying the higher rate for volume you don’t need, and the same goes if they are too small. Get the bin size changed through your landlord or the waste company servicing your town or village.
For other assistance in disposing of refuse or special waste items, call public works or civil engineering operations and maintenance departments at Daenner Kaserne (Army) at 483-8612 or 0631-411-8612 or Ramstein (Air Force) at
480-7712 or 06371-47-7712.
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Whether you are new to the area, been here a while or just need a refresher on getting rid of your trash, please read on:
WHO – Everyone. Household and commercial recycling was mandated in Germany in1993. Americans living in Germany, whether living on base or on the economy, must recycle.
WHAT – Most of our trash is recyclable, leaving only about 20 percent non-recyclable trash or “Restmüll.” Recyclable trash is paper and cardboard in one container, plastics and light metals in the “Gelbe Sack,” or yellow bag, glass in another container and biodegradable wastes in another. After that, most of our non-recyclable residual wastes go into the normal trash. The exceptions are your household hazardous items, such as household cleaning products, dry batteries, outdoor chemicals and auto-care items. Most household hazard items can be accepted at KMC recycling centers.
WHEN – Trash and recycling throughout the community is set for pick up on different days and frequencies. For example, my trash and recyclables are picked up on alternating Wednesdays – on the first Wednesday, paper, cardboard and yellow bags are picked up. On the second Wednesday, only trash is picked up. Check with your landlord, neighbors or the waste company to verify what is picked up on what days in your area.
WHERE – Off-post/base, your weekly pickup is done at the curb in front of your house or from your established collection point for those living in apartments. On-post/base offers curbside pickup for some items, common area dumpsters for others and many items can be taken to the military recycling centers; however, the military recycling centers are not for everyday or off-post refuse disposal.
WHY – It’s the law. Recycling was mandated by German law because they had no more space in landfills. Recycling helps protect the environment in many ways – not the least of which are conserving natural resources for future generations and minimizing landfill space requirements. Also, it’s the right thing to do, and U.S. forces must comply whether on- or off-duty, and whether living on or off our military installations.
HOW – Utilize various collection systems, waste bins and bags and pick-up points for on- and off-base residents.
OTHER – The types of waste bins offered in your community may vary since some communities separate waste more or less than others. You may have bins or bags for paper, light fractions, trash, biodegradable wastes, plus they may also collect glass in “gray bags.” Ask your landlord, neighbors or the German-American Community Office to help determine what wastes to put out on what days. In Kaiserslautern, GACO can be very helpful for city and outlying village pickup information. Call 0631-363-3010 for more information. The Housing Referral Office can also be helpful in finding appropriate contact information for your area.
• Bulk items and special waste: These items may require planning and extra effort.
• Moving boxes: Moving companies are usually required under their contracts to remove boxes and packing materials.
• Old furniture, appliances and household bulk items: On-post residents can use the recycling centers that offer bulk-waste containers. Off-post residents may call 0631-7105-449 to arrange for bulk item removal. A few villages still have “Sperrmüll,” or junk night, where items can be placed at the curb for next-day removal. Sperrmüll is being phased out in some areas of the KMC.
• Used tires: this usually requires paying for disposal at the outlet where you purchased or mounted your new tires. Use this service because accumulated tires quickly become a hard to handle nuisance. Some KMC recycling centers can accept waste tires without rims. Military auto skills centers and the Ramstein Air Base Auto Recycling Center charge a nominal fee to accept waste tires.
• Household hazards: Items such as flashlight batteries, waste paint cans, oily rags and other items that could be dangerous if not properly handled and disposed of. They should not be put in with recycling or regular trash. Most KMC recycling centers have containers for household hazard items.
ABOUT BIN SIZING – Off-post, if you’ve taken over a house or apartment from another family larger or smaller then your own, your trash cans may need to be re-sized. Your monthly trash bill is based on the size or capacity of your bins. If they are larger than you need, you’ll be paying the higher rate for volume you don’t need, and the same goes if they are too small. Get the bin size changed through your landlord or the waste company servicing your town or village.
For other assistance in disposing of refuse or special waste items, call public works or civil engineering operations and maintenance departments at Daenner Kaserne (Army) at 483-8612 or 0631-411-8612 or Ramstein (Air Force) at
480-7712 or 06371-47-7712.