In order to do this, the authorities have created a very specific system that citizens are required to follow when getting rid of their trash and recycling.
I think that the trash and reycycling initiative is a vital part of this community. By requiring people to sort what they are throwing out, these individuals are forced to think more closely about what they are throwing out and why. This requirement makes people more aware of just how much we humans use and then discard. The result is that rather than tossing everything into the trash like I do in the U.S., I have to look at each carton, box and container that I buy and figure out which category it goes into.
Now, rather than just thinking of myself, I have to consider how an entire neighborhood, city and country can work together to produce less waste. In my opinion, the German system is well organized and works well. For example, while I sort my trash and recycling at home, most apartment buildings do not have their own glass bin. So when I have glass to throw out I have to locate one of the community city containers.
I think this need is being met. In a logistical sense, there are lots of trash and recycling bins around the city. In a more academic sense, I think this communal focus on disposing of waste is a good way for individuals to contribute to the common environmental goal. One of the words for trash in German is Abfall. Recycling is Abfallverwertung; the verwertung part of that word on its own means (re)utilization, recovery and application.
