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My biodegradable waste bin is too small

If you think that your biodegradable waste bin will not be big enough for a bi-weekly collection during the trial period, we recommend that you use a larger bin.

No additional fees are charged for the biodegradable waste bin. It is available in 80, 120 and 240 litre sizes. Homeowners and property management companies can order new bins or adapt existing bins by indicating their municipal utilities customer number. This can be done by calling the citizen services line 115 or on our homepage www.karlsruhe.de/abfall. If you live in a rented home, please contact your property management company.

The biweekly collection frequency will be introduced citywide. In the coming weeks, the Department for Waste Management is expecting many requests for modifi cations. We ask for your understanding if we need a little more time to fulfi l all requests for modifi cations. If, during the trial period, you have more biodegradable waste than your biodegradable waste bin can hold, you are allowed to put it into the residual waste bin until your new biodegradable waste bin has arrived.

Please bear in mind that this information only applies for private households. Commercial enterprises can fi nd information on the disposal of food waste on www.karlsruhe.de/abfall -> Gewerbeservice (services for commercial customers).

Further advice

Do you have any questions?

Stadt KarlsruheAmt für AbfallwirtschaftOttostraße 21, 76227 KarlsruheBehördennummer 115E-Mail: afa@karlsruhe.deInternet: www.karlsruhe.de/abfall

Trial period for biodegradable waste binBiweekly collection in the cooler months

Stadt KarlsruheAmt für Abfallwirtschaft

From February 2019

Trial period from 1st February 2019 until the end of March 2020

In future, the biodegradable waste bin will be emptied every two weeks (instead of each week) in the cooler months, from November until March. From 1st February 2019 until the end of March 2020, the City of Karlsruhe’s Department for Waste Management will test the modifi ed waste collection rotation citywide on a trial basis. During the warmer months (April till October), the weekly collection of biodegradable waste bins will be maintained.

The advantages for you

The modifi ed collection frequency enables the Department for Waste Management to optimise the deployment of personnel and maintains stable costs.

The environment will also benefi t with fewer refuse collection vehicles on the road reducing emissions and noise pollution.

Hygiene and smell

Over the years, experience in other municipalities has shown that a biweekly collection of biodegradable waste bins in the cooler months does not pose any problems. As long as biodegradable waste is handled properly, increased odours or the development of maggots are unlikely.

Studies by the German Federal Foundation for the Environment showed that proper handling of the biodegradable waste bin does not expose the user to any health risks. Even if the bins are left standing for two weeks, a biweekly collection is acceptable and is unlikely to present any health risks.

Handling of biodegradable waste

Regardless of the season, it is important not to leave foodstuffs unwrapped. Wrap your biodegradable waste in plenty of newspaper or put it into paper bags. This seals in moisture, reduces odours and prevents fl ies from laying their eggs in the biodegradable waste.

Please use pre-sorting containers for your biodegradable waste. You can buy them at retail outlets or at the Department for Waste Management, Ottostraße 21,

where they are sold for 2.50€ each.

Please make sure you empty your pre-sorting container every two or three days.

Please do not use plastic bags or bags made of compostable bioplastics. Bags made of compostable bioplastics are not suitable for Karlsruhe’s biodegradable waste bin. Just like plastic bags, they have to be removed mechanically. Remains of the bags do not rot quickly enough and reduce compost quality. Paper bags which fi t into the standard pre-sorting containers are available at retail outlets.

During winter, you can also place some crumpled paper in the bottom of the biodegradable waste bin. This prevents the biodegradable waste from getting stuck to the bottom of the bin when exposed to frost.

Keep your biodegradable waste bin and your pre-sorting container closed.