Category Danger level: No problem products

Coating of wood as paint and lacquer as well as wood preservers contain toxic substances, which may not get into the environment. The same applies to plywood and chipboard, which contain glue, bonding agents and resins. Wood dust and in particular dust from beech and oak wood can be cancerous. Use a performing aspiration and protective clothing when working with these wood types.

Use returnable palettes and ask specialist companies to repair damaged palettes, this saves money and raw material. Cork is a good isolation material, which may also be used as flooring material.

Untreated wood can be used as raw material in the production of chipboard. Treated wood has to undergo heat treatment in special installations. Cork waste is shredded and used for the production of insulation material and additives.

Textile fiber can be classified in three groups: natural fibers made out of vegetal or animal raw material (as cotton), half synthetic fibers on the basis of vegetal raw material and synthetic chemical fibers on petrol basis. Half of the textile fibers produced worldwide contain chemical fibers and mixtures are most frequently used.

• Wear high quality clothes, best in a modern timeless design to use them over many years.
• Do not buy seasonal clothes.
• Synthetic carpets are also a favorite location for dusts and mites. Floor covering out of natural raw material as wood or flax (linoleum) are alternatives.

Used clothes are collected and can be resold in second hand shops or send to third world countries but most of the time they are processed to become cleaning pads. Carpets can be partially recycled or used as fuel substitute.

Used electric appliances contain material, which may be recycled as for instance metal, plastic and even some parts to be re-used but they also contain toxic substances in condensers, batteries, quicksilver switches, etc.

Check how environment friendly the new appliances are you intend to buy as well as their lifetime and energy consumption.

Manual dismounting of appliances, removal of parts containing dangerous substances and parts, which can be recycled, shredding of remaining parts and separation of plastic, precious metals, iron and non-iron metals.

IMPORTANT! Sockets and cable waste are not garbage!

Glass is a material, which can be melted an unlimited number of times and be processed to be used in new glass products.

Small damages to windscreens (for instance by a stone) can be repaired by specialized companies. Use returnable bottles instead of glass or plastic cans or one-way bottles. Use the water from the tap.

Collect flat glass, laminated glass (windscreen) and hollow glass (bottles) separately to allow for recycling.

During the recycling, glass sorted according to types is broken in several steps and contaminations are eliminated by metal separators, wind sieves and sieves. The glass granulate / powder obtained is melted and used to create new products.

Glass and rock wool fibers can be damageable for health. PU foam used to be foamed with CFC and has to be disposed of separately Styrodur is more compact and harder than Styropor and does not have the latter’s fine pearl structure.

During any construction and renovation work, take care on subsequent dismantling. If the products are unmixed, clean and separated correctly, then they can be recycled.

Glass and rock wool are shredded and sieved in a special installation. Mineral fiber powder obtained by this process is used in the construction material industry. PU foam is shredded and CFC collected. The CFC free powder is used as oil bonding agent (Oeko-Pur®). Styropor® and Styrodur® are also shredded and used for the production or new products.

lMPORTANT! Do not put in the residual waste! Do not incinerate!

Metal recycling has a long tradition as metals can be easily melted and reshaped. To be recycled however, metals may not contain other substances as for instance greases, plastics, rubber, wood, etc.

Before recycling, vehicles have to be cleaned, thus all operating liquids (fuel, oil, brake and cooling liquids) have to be removed, lead accumulators be taken out and tires dismounted. For larger quantities of non-iron metal a separate collection is recommended as the waste recipient is paying more for metals.

After removal of possible third substances, metals are shredded and used in steel works (iron metal) or other non-iron metal works (non-iron metals) for the manufacturing of new products.

Paper and cardboard should be free from other substances or contamination. Short fiber hygiene paper does not belong to used paper. Paper with paint contains dangerous substances and has to be collected separately.

Recycling/environment correct disposal:

Fibers are mixed with water to form a paper paste, which undergoes various cleaning steps. Coating and ink are extracted and after water extraction the paste is used to produce new paper.

Important! Paper plates, heavily soiled pizza boxes, parchment paper, scrap paper, photo paper, traditional receipts (except blue special paper), tissues and napkins belong in the residual waste.

Pay particular attention to reusable packaging options.

PVC is a highly multifunctional, economical plastic, which due to its variable characteristics is used in many different fields. It contains an important part of chlorine, which is a problem for the environment especially if it is burned. Plastics of unknown composition may only undergo thermal treatment.

See also Plastic Convention.

Use environment friendly plastic or alternative products made out of metal or wood.

Separately collected PVC products (for instance windows and shutters, floor coverings) are shredded; materials are separated and used in the production of new products. Plastic of unknown composition undergoes thermal treatment, thus is used for energy supply.

Fully emptied fuel tanks may contain an explosive oxygen fuel mixture and should be handled with care. Hubcaps, rear lights and indicators as well as most of the bumpers are made out of clearly defined material and, if collected appropriately, can by recycled. Front lights and mirrors are made out of a material mixture, which is difficult to separate.

Small damages on bumpers can be repaired avoiding the replacement of the entire part. Ask resellers for existing repair systems.

Rear lights and indicators as well as bumpers of known composition (PP, PC and PU) are separated according to material types, shredded, granulated and then used in the production of new parts. Front lights, mirrors, bumpers of plastic mixtures and fuel tanks undergo thermal treatment.

In general, only organic waste of plant origin can be composted or can be put in the green bin. Organic waste of animal origin are considered separately. It is essential to ensure that no hazardous material is introduced to humans through the food chain.

Composting is the oldest and most natural form of waste recycling. The end product, compost, is a natural manure and an excellent soil improving means to be used in the garden and on fields. Be aware of your responsibilities with food in order to have as little waste as possible.

Organic waste from plant: Products from organic plant are generally compostable.In some biogas central, leftovers can be converted into biogas.

Animal origins: animal fatty substances can be reworked in industrial greases, animal carcasses and similar products are treated in thermal systems.