Dispose of green waste: this is how it works

The professional disposal of green waste primarily depends on the quantity. There are various ways to properly dispose of garden waste, which also differ significantly in cost.

organic waste

Theoretically, nothing stands in the way of disposing of green waste in organic waste. The waste is organic material that decomposes over time and can even be processed further. The most common end products include compost and natural gas. For this reason, you can easily dispose of smaller quantities of green waste up to one cubic meter in the organic waste bin.

Green waste includes the following waste:

• lawn clippings
• grass
• weed
• leaves
• straw
• hedge pieces
• shrubs
• potted plants
• thin branches
• sawdust
• Tree trunks up to two meters long

Disposal with organic waste is possible all year round. Just make sure that there is usually more green waste in spring and autumn, as many plants need pruning at this time or leaves is collected. This will prevent your compost bin from overflowing.

Furthermore, the following points must be observed during disposal:

• Chop green waste well
• thoroughly remove soil
• Waste must be untreated

A notice: You must not put green waste in the residual waste, otherwise the waste cannot be sorted properly. It can happen that your residual waste bin is not picked up if it has been filled with green waste.

Alternative: green waste bags

If there is more clippings, you can order so-called green waste bags from the municipality in addition to your organic waste bin. These are larger sacks that are filled with green waste like a bio bin. Depending on the municipality, they are taken away when the bins are emptied during garbage collection or at fixed times. The sacks usually have an inscription that makes them recognizable for waste disposal. Depending on where you live, the bags are available for five to ten euros each, including collection. In many communities, the bags are only available during a certain period of time, for example from spring to autumn, and a notification may be required for the collection of the green waste.

Compost small amounts

You do not have to dispose of green waste. You can recycle it on its own by using it compost. Just put one in for that compost on and add the green waste regularly. Twigs and foliage are great for this, as is grass. You should be careful with weeds. These are composted before flowering or seed formation to prevent spread while rotting on the compost. Seeds generally do not rot on the compost, which can accelerate weed infestation next year.

You should also not dispose of green waste that is contaminated in the following ways:

• Mold
• Diseases
• rot

A notice: Lawn clippings are excellent in dry times use as a mulch. You can simply put it on the lawn after mowing Leave the lawn area.

Recycling center and collection points

Another way to dispose of green waste is to use collection points and recycling centers. You can hand in small to large amounts of green waste there, which can then be recycled and used by the community. For many, recycling centers are the first point of contact for this form of disposal.

Recycling depots usually have the following fee model:

• Green waste up to one cubic meter free of charge
• each additional cubic meter: 2 to 20 euros

The final cost per cubic meter varies greatly from municipality to municipality. There are also many recycling centers that accept no more than one cubic meter of green waste per person. Find out beforehand to find out how much of your garden waste you can dispose of. Alternatively, you can switch to green waste collection points or shredding sites. These are specially set up collection points for garden waste and green waste available to citizens for a small fee of a few euros per cubic meter or part thereof stand. What is important at these collection points is not the delivery quantity. Ideally, you should bring the green waste sorted separately to the collection points, for example branches and leaves in separate bags. When considering the costs, also pay attention to the delivery of the waste. You have to transport the green waste yourself, which increases the costs.

The following factors affect the final disposal cost:

• fuel
• Rental of transport trailer or van
• Packaging material such as green waste bags

green waste container

If you have to dispose of a large amount of green waste, you should order a container. Green waste containers are provided by a disposal company and remain on your property for a few days or weeks and can therefore be filled without any problems. If you have a large garden or want to change it completely, the other disposal methods are usually no longer sufficient. Luckily, the containers are made available by a variety of vendors. They are primarily available in sizes from three to ten cubic meters, which makes them ideal for large amounts of green waste. The costs are around 150 to 700 euros depending on the region and size.

Other costs are:

• Approach through the company
• possible set-up costs
• disposal costs

Tip: As an alternative to a container, you can rent big bags for about half the cost. They are designed for a load of 500 kilograms up to one ton.

Problematic: forest disposal

Garden owners often think about disposing of green waste in the nearest wooded area. Since the waste is a natural material, it is reasonable to assume that it will simply rot and no traces will be visible. However, the disposal of green waste in the forest and even in open spaces is much more problematic than assumed and is also prohibited. Forests are a delicate ecosystem.

Adding other organic materials, especially in large amounts, can cause the following problems:

• immense excess of nutrients (over-fertilization)
• increased mold growth
• Acidification (e.g. from conifers)

frequently asked Questions