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Germany is a wonderfully vibrant and green country. Not just with its rolling hills and mountains, but in the eco-friendly sense as well. As one of the leading nations in strict environmental policies, Germany has become a standard bearer in the fight against climate change and global warming. With a vast public transportation network and impressive recycling scheme (Germany recycles more than 50% of all waste production), it can be a little daunting when you first arrive to your host nation. Here are a few ideas to help you become little more Earth-friendly during your time here.
Recycling is a must
While you may be accustomed to chucking everything into a solitary bin and walking away, here in Germany, you’ll suffer not only a disapproving glare from your neighbors, but also risk a fine if you don’t recycle properly. You’re usually given multiple bins for different materials: glass, paper/cardboard, mixed and/or plastics, bio and household waste. Glass can be separated further by color – white or clear, green and brown. Food scraps and leftovers, grass and leaf clippings, as well as other compostable waste goes into biodegradable bags and into the bio bin. Be sure to flatten boxes to create more space in the cardboard/paper container. Before tossing aluminum cans and plastics into the bins, give them a quick rinse. Recycled waste is sorted by hand, so it can be an extra messy affair if you don’t rinse them out.
Get your money back
“Pfand” is an incentive program designed to promote and encourage glass and plastic recycling. When you purchase bottled beverages on the economy, you’ll often pay a “Pfand” or deposit. When you return the empty bottles back to the store, you’ll get your money back. Look for the logo and barcode on the label to determine whether or not the bottle will be accepted. Some stores may not accept certain types if they don’t sell that particular brand of bottle. Many chains such as Globus, Real and Edeka have return machines near the front or rear of the store. The machine will print a voucher which can be exchanged for cash at the register.
Take advantage of the transportation
Germany lives up to its reputation as a leader in public transportation. With an impressive network of local and national rail lines, bus routes and well-kept bike paths (not to mention a very hefty tax when purchasing gas on the economy), there are plenty options of available to help cut vehicle emissions. Connecting smaller towns and villages to larger cities and beyond, traveling by train allows you to see more of the countryside and scenery – and the people watching can be entertaining as well. To help encourage alternate modes of transportation, many villages will close the roads to motorized vehicles over a weekend during the warmer spring and summer months. Organized “volksmarches” and bike rides usually end with a local fest.
