Organic Waste, Yard Waste, & Organic Waste Bin

We ask that you use used paper bags year-round—ideally in line with the motto: “A Second Life for the Bag” —such as bakery bags—but to generally avoid using plastic bags in order to improve the quality of Erlangen’s organic waste and, consequently, the compost produced from it, thereby contributing to active environmental protection.

For more information, please visit: https://erlangen.de/aktuelles/biotonne and https://youtu.be/QhlPgtXqoDM.

Order an organic waste bin

Every household can order a green bin (organic waste bin) with a capacity of 120 or 240 liters at no additional cost. Changes or requests for replacements can also be made by contacting the following:

Phone: 09131 86-2015

abfallwirtschaft@stadt.erlangen.de

You can view the exact collection day for your building online in the city’s waste collection calendar. There, you can also subscribe to receive your collection dates as email notifications or reminders, or integrate them directly into your digital calendar via iCal/WebCal. Alternatively, you can have your annual calendar or a list of the next 10 dates sent to you via email as a PDF so you can print them out, for example.

Go to the digital waste collection calendar

Disposing of yard waste

Larger quantities can be dropped off year-round directly at the Frauenaurach composting facility.

The composting facility also offers “Erlanger Kompost,” a high-quality product made in-house. This compost is produced exclusively from garden waste brought in by residents. Your garden will thank you!

More info on the Frauenaurach composting facility

Annual Garden Waste Collection Events

You can drop off your green waste for free at designated locations throughout the city in the fall. The containers are available at the drop-off points from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day. You can find the next date for a garden waste collection event online in the city’s waste calendar. We’ll also post updates a few weeks before the event on erlangen.de and through our social media channels.

For larger quantities or other dates, the Waste Management Department also provides containers for a fee.

Order a Container for Garden Waste

For a flat-rate fee, you can order a 7.7 m³ container for garden waste year-round.

Phone: 09131 - 86-2015

Sorting organic waste

Recyclables

Organic waste is recyclable. No other component of household waste can be returned to the natural cycle more easily or with fewer complications.

The cost of the organic waste bin is already included in the waste disposal fee. This fee is based on the size of your residual waste bin. You should therefore collect organic waste, just like all other recyclables, separately. The less residual waste you generate, the lower your waste disposal fee will be.

What happens to the organic waste?

Erlangen’s organic waste is loaded into containers at the municipal composting site and transported daily to a composting facility. There, some of the organic waste is composted, and some is fermented to produce biogas. The compost is used as fertilizer and a soil conditioner in agriculture, horticulture, and community gardens. The biogas is used to generate electricity. Incorrectly disposed items, such as plastic bags, significantly disrupt these processes!

Dirt – Maggots – Odor

What to Do?

Unpleasant side effects during the warmer months—such as rotting, odors, maggot infestations, and fungal spores—can be minimized!

• Always line the bottom of the organic waste bin with paper.
• Put paper towels, soiled and crumpled paper, and used tissues in the compost bin.
• Wrap organic waste in paper bags or newspaper.

This reduces moisture content and leads to less odor and spore formation. It also significantly reduces maggot infestations and keeps the bin clean.

In winter, newspaper prevents damp organic waste from freezing to the rim of the bin.

Lime helps with maggot infestations

If maggots appear, it helps to sprinkle hydrated lime (algae lime or slaked lime) into the compost bin. You can purchase lime at your local building supply store. When the weather is nice, open the lid, as dry and well-ventilated organic waste is rarely infested with maggots.

A Second Life for the Bag

Under the motto “A second life for the bag,” we’d like to point out that it makes sense to use, for example, bakery bags or uncoated butcher’s bags for your organic waste. This traps moisture, thereby reducing unpleasant odors, and the bag thus serves a useful purpose at least a second time.

Cleaning the organic waste bin—the user’s responsibility

According to the Waste Management Ordinance, cleaning organic waste bins—as well as all other trash bins—is the responsibility of the users. You can also have your organic waste bin exchanged for a clean one for a fee of 27.40 euros.

This does NOT belong in the organic waste bin

Non-biodegradable materials and waste that would impair compost quality, such as:

1) Cellophane or plastic bags
2) Residual waste such as:

• paper soiled with mineral oil
• Baby diapers
• Vacuum cleaner bags
• Impregnated wood
• Cigarette butts

Please dispose of organic waste without plastic bags (including those labeled as “biodegradable”)!

Incorrect Disposal

The fewer items that don’t belong in the compost bin, the better the composting facility can process the organic waste! If your organic waste bin contains a significant amount of non-compostable material, it will not be emptied. In addition, you’ll need to request a special, fee-based pickup as general waste.

By the way: Your organic waste bin is emptied weekly, while the general waste bin is emptied every 14 days.

You’re welcome to pick up this sticker for your organic waste bin or your building’s organic waste bin from us (see contact information below).