Potting soil in residual waste: Strict rules for the organic waste bin in the Fulda district!

Potting soil in residual waste: Strict rules for the organic waste bin in the Fulda district!

In the Fulda district there are strict rules when it comes to separating organic waste. A particularly hotly debated topic is the disposal of potting soil. While there is a ban in many communities, in other regions potting soil definitely belongs in the organic waste bin. In Fulda it was stipulated that potting soil belongs in the residual waste bin, not in the organic waste bin. This ensures that disruptive factors that could cause problems when processing organic waste in the biothane plant in Großenlüder can be avoided. According to Fuldaer Zeitung, incorrectly filled organic waste bins can not only lead to a refusal to empty them, but also to costs of 40 euros.

In order to improve the quality of organic waste, the “wirfürbio” association is carrying out a campaign to control organic waste bins. Since May 2023, the district has tightened controls in order to enforce the rules for organic waste bins more strictly. Incorrectly filled bins will be marked with a red card, meaning they will not be emptied. This is a crucial step to ensure that organic waste is actually recycled and not turned into residual waste.

What can go in the organic waste bin?

The basics for the correct contents of the organic waste bin are clear. In principle, all vegetable waste from the kitchen and garden can be thrown in. These include, among others:

• Laub, Rasen- und Strauchschnitt
• Blumen- und Pflanzenreste, Unkraut, Moos
• Topfpflanzen mit Erdballen, verblühte Schnittblumen

But dangerous half-knowledge can also become a problem here. Waste such as plastic plant pots or empty packaging do not belong in the organic waste bin and must be disposed of separately, as waste separation works reports.

Regional differences and legal framework conditions

An important criterion in the discussion about the organic waste bin is the regional differences in disposal rules. The Federal Ministry for the Environment intervenes here and explains that the decision as to whether potting soil can be put in the organic waste bin or not ultimately lies with the municipalities. While small amounts of potting soil are permitted in the Main-Kinzig district, in the Vogelsberg district small amounts of plastic-free potting soil have their place in the organic waste bin, while larger quantities should be taken to the green waste disposal site.

The topic of waste separation is constantly discussed across the country. An analysis by NABU shows that 16 percent of districts and independent cities do not have a comprehensive supply of organic waste bins. In many households there is no organic waste bin at all. Despite the legal obligation since 2015 to provide a system for the separate collection of organic waste, huge quantities, an estimated four million tonnes, continue to end up in the residual waste bin.

In order to remedy this situation, NABU is calling for, among other things, a uniform calculation of connection quotas and consistent enforcement of the obligation to collect separately. That would be a step in the right direction to support both nature and climate protection. After all, the separate collection and recycling of organic waste is not just a trend, but the need of the hour, as NABU clearly explains.

All in all, it shows that the correct disposal of organic waste is not only important for your own community, but also for the entire environment. That's why it's crucial to know the rules and follow them. This is the only way to make the organic waste bin a real support for sustainable waste management and environmental protection.