No one really likes Mondays, but we get a new one each week, nonetheless. Monday in my household means two things: trash day and going back to work. Both of these activities are familiar to an American living in Germany, but there are also some differences that take some getting used to.
First, the trash must be sorted before we even go to bed on Sunday night. German households do not simply have trash and recycling like most in the U.S. Here, recycling is split four ways even before it gets picked up. First is the Biomüll, or compostables. We keep these in a small bin on our balcony so that they don’t make the apartment smell. When the bin is full, the compostables go into a green bin that will be picked up on trash day. Next is the gelbe Tonne (yellow barrel), where we put our paper products. Old cereal boxes, greeting cards, and newspapers all go here. Third is the blaue Tonne (blue barrel), where we place mixed recyclables. These are usually items made from plastic or multiple materials, like soup cans or plastic bags. Last comes the glass, which is usually drink containers and pickle jars. Glass items can be left on the curb for pickup on trash day, or they can be returned for the deposit, which is called a Pfand.
