Sorting waste in Berlin

Last checked: 18.10.2026

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Recyclables, organics, paper, glass, residual waste: what goes in which bin in Berlin, the most common mistakes and where everything else goes.

Five types of waste, an igloo-shaped bottle bank on the corner and the question of where the yoghurt pot goes: sorting waste is part of everyday life in Berlin – and still a lot ends up in the wrong container. The Berliner Stadtreinigung (BSR), Berlin's public waste collection and street cleaning company, distinguishes between recyclables, paper, glass, organic and residual waste in households [1]. This guide shows what goes where. The current BSR page always has the final word.

Recycling bin (Wertstofftonne): packaging and things made of metal and plastic

According to the BSR, the yellow or orange recycling bins (Wertstofftonne) are meant for packaging and other items made of metal, plastic or composite materials [2]. In go, for example, yoghurt pots, washing-up liquid and detergent bottles, film and plastic bags, polystyrene trays, drinks cans and food tins, bottle caps, aluminium foil and lids and drinks cartons – but also worn-out cooking pots, cutlery, screws, watering cans or plastic toys [2]. Not allowed: electrical appliances, rechargeable and single-use batteries, energy-saving lamps, textiles, data storage media, wood, paper and glass [2]. Depending on the part of town, the bin is emptied by the BSR or by the waste company ALBA; the BSR page tells you which one is responsible for your address [2].

Organic waste (Biogut): everything organic – without plastic

All of Berlin is connected to the organic waste bin, which is called the Biogut bin here [3]. In go food leftovers, including cooked food (wrapped in newspaper), old food without packaging, fruit and vegetable scraps including citrus peel, coffee grounds and filters, tea and tea bags, eggshells, kitchen paper as well as leaves and flowers [3]. The BSR turns all this into biogas and compost [3].

The most common mistake is bags: according to the BSR, plastics, film, bags and bioplastics too do not belong in the organic waste [3]. So collect it in a container that you empty out, or in newspaper. Also not for the organic bin: nappies, cat litter, vacuum cleaner bags, ash, textiles and glass [3].

Paper and glass

The blue paper bin takes newspapers, magazines, boxes, cardboard, paper packaging, leaflets, books and exercise books – but not soiled or coated paper, leftover wallpaper or carbonless copy paper [4].

In Berlin, glass is usually collected in the igloo-shaped bottle banks (Glasiglus) at the roadside, separated into clear, green and brown glass [5]. According to the BSR, there is no need to rinse it, and lids may stay on the jars [5]. Drinking glasses, crockery, window and mirror glass as well as light bulbs and LED lamps do not belong in the container [5]. Deposit bottles (Pfand) go back to the shop – more on that in the guide “Less packaging, more reuse”.

Residual waste: what is really left over

The grey bin is for whatever cannot be recycled, or only at great effort: hygiene products and nappies, pet litter, vacuum cleaner bags and sweepings, soiled or coated paper, broken crockery and mirrors, leftover wallpaper and ash [6]. The BSR incinerates residual waste at the Ruhleben waste-to-energy plant and generates electricity and heat from it [6]. Batteries, electrical appliances and hazardous waste must not go in [6].

Since 1 January 2025, clothing has its own rule: wearable, clean textiles belong in the used-clothing collection, and only worn-out and heavily soiled items still go in the residual waste [7]. More on this in the guide “Clothes and textiles”.

If you are not sure

For individual cases, the BSR has an A–Z of waste (Abfall-ABC, in German) [1]; you can reach its service centre Monday to Friday from 8 am to 6 pm and on Saturdays from 8 am to 2 pm on 030 7592-4900 [2]. Whatever does not belong in any bin – bulky waste, electrical appliances, batteries – is accepted at the BSR's 14 recycling centres (Recyclinghöfe), the city's drop-off points for larger and special waste; leftover paint and other hazardous waste only at the centres that accept hazardous waste [8]. Our guide “Disposing of things properly in Berlin” explains the rules there. And before anything usable ends up in the bin: the BSR runs a free online swap and give-away market [9].

Places and events

Recycling centres and drop-off pointsMake things last · 13 places

Better to pass it on: second-hand shops and donation pointsMake things last · 8 places

There are no events for this in the calendar in the coming month. All upcoming events of this kind

GuideDisposing of things properly in Berlin