Biowaste

An organic waste container must be used on every property that is connected to the waste disposal system of the City of Aachen.

The organic waste container is emptied every 14 days. Upon written request, exemption from use can be granted if either qualified home composting is carried out or if there are health risks.

Raw and cooked kitchen waste (e.g. leftover eggshells, coffee and tea grounds, bread and cake scraps, bone, meat and fish waste), fruit and vegetable waste (e.g. potato, fruit, nut and onion peelings, fallen fruit, vegetable peelings), garden waste (e.g. weeds, wilted flowers, leaves, shrub cuttings, lawn, tree and shrub cuttings) and other waste (e.g. potted plants (without pots), sawdust and sawdust) belong in the organic waste garbage cans. garden waste (e.g. weeds, wilted flowers, leaves, shrub cuttings, lawn, tree and shrub cuttings), and other waste (e.g. potted plants (without pots), sawdust and sawdust from untreated wood, hair, wood wool, cellulose kitchen towels).

The waste advisory service of Aachener Stadtbetrieb provides some tips for the proper use of organic waste containers:

• If possible, place the containers in the shade.
• Before refilling an empty organic waste garbage can, always line the bottom with a few balled-up sheets of newspaper or torn egg carton. The organic material will then not stick to the bottom of the garbage can. These adhesive residues could otherwise form a breeding ground for vermin and unwanted odors.
• In apartment buildings, it makes sense to stick a note on the organic waste garbage cans saying: "Please insert newspaper before first use!" The blue garbage can for waste paper is often placed next to the green garbage can.
• Always wrap kitchen waste (e.g. salad leaves, potato peelings etc.) in newspaper before putting it in the organic waste garbage can. The paper absorbs the leaking liquid and binds it. This means that the bin can be emptied cleanly and unpleasant odors are avoided.
• At high summer temperatures and with a well-filled container, place a layer of newspaper on top of the filled material from time to time.
• Collect the organic waste in the kitchen in paper bags or wrap it in newspaper (no glossy paper!). You don't have to buy these bags; you can use the ones provided by greengrocers or bakers, for example.
• Cat litter and small animal litter do not belong in the organic waste garbage cans. Compostable cat and small animal litter is available on the market. However, this compostable litter may only be placed in the organic waste bins when clean. As soon as cat or small animal litter is contaminated with urine and excrement, it is residual waste and must be disposed of in the residual waste garbage cans.
• Do not fill in plastic bags. Otherwise the organic waste container will not be emptied and must be left standing. The composting plant will not accept incorrect loads, they must be disposed of as residual waste, and these costs increase the fees. This also applies to products labeled as "compostable" or with the seedling symbol.

As there are more and more things in the organic waste garbage cans that have absolutely no business being there, the Aachen municipal company has produced a guide to the correct separation of organic waste. This is available as a flyer in DIN A4 format or as a DIN A3 poster that can be hung up in the household itself or above the organic waste garbage can.

The guide shows which waste belongs in the organic waste garbage can and which does not. It also explains why it is so important that biowaste is collected separately and then recycled.

As the different seasons require careful handling of the biowaste garbage can, useful tips on summer and winter time are also provided.

The flyer and poster on the subject of biowaste can be found in the download overview. They are also available from the Aachen municipal services and the district offices.

Organic waste must not contain any plastic. No plastic, plastic bags or products labeled as "compostable" or with the seedling symbol.
Please refrain from including such products in your organic waste and use paper bags or newspaper instead for pre-collection in your household.

In summer temperatures, you should pay particular attention to the waste in the organic waste garbage can. Especially in warm temperatures, the organic waste bin can easily "sweat" and a lot of moisture builds up. The consequences are unpleasant odors and possible maggot infestation.

The bin should therefore be placed in a shady area if possible. In addition, the base of the organic waste container should be lined with crumpled newspaper (not glossy paper) or egg carton to absorb the moisture.

In the kitchen, the moist organic waste can be wrapped in newspaper. Or paper bags can be used to reduce the moisture in the organic waste container. Lawn cuttings should be allowed to dry slightly before being placed in the organic waste bin to draw the moisture out of the bin.

Rock flour, dry garden soil or unslaked lime help to prevent maggot infestation.

Preventive measures

At temperatures below zero degrees, organic waste can freeze in the garbage cans. The waste management department of Aachen's municipal services has therefore compiled some tips on preventative measures.

If possible, the organic waste bins should be placed in a frost-protected location, such as in the cellar or garage. Crumpled newspaper or egg cartons at the bottom of the container absorb moisture from the waste. Moist waste can also be wrapped in newspaper.

Hot water should not be poured over the frozen organic waste, as it cools down quickly in appropriate weather conditions and causes the contents of the container to freeze even more. If the biowaste sticks to the container, it can be carefully loosened with a spade the evening before emptying or in the morning.

You can be exempted from the obligation to provide the organic waste container
if you operate a qualified home composting system on your property.

You can fill out this form if you would like to apply for home composting.

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