Product Dictionary

The collection of batteries and accumulators is through the collection system ecobatterien.

Battery electrodes are frequently made out of metal or metal compounds as lead, cadmium, nickel or quicksilver, which are dangerous for the environment and highly toxic for the human body. Acids from vehicle batteries and brines from emergency batteries are highly caustic. Lithium batteries can overheat or even explode. Consider the security information.

If possible use appliances without batteries as for instance appliances with solar cells. Use rechargeable batteries (Ni-Mh; Lithiumaccumulators).

Consider the information on www.shop-green.lu.

Dry batteries undergo chemical treatment in a special installation to retrieve zinc, iron and manganese salts. Lead accumulators are distillated. Lead and iron, nickel ans plastics are made available to the industry as raw material. Accumulator acids and brines are neutralized. Mercury batteries, NiCd and NiMh are also covered in specific installations. Nickel, cadium and mercury are also recovered.

IMPORTANT ! Not in the household waste !

In the recent analysis of residual waste carried out in 2022, not insignificant quantities of bitumen residues and roofing felt were found. Extrapolated for the entire year, this amounted to almost 42 tonnes in Luxembourg.

However, these products do not belong in the residual waste, because bitumen, with which roofing felt is glued and which is often also used for insulation/building protection, can be harmful to health and must therefore be handled with care.

It also cannot be ruled out that the products contain tar. Unlike bitumen, tar is not obtained from petroleum, but from the pyrolysis of hard coal. It is carcinogenic and has a high pollutant potential. Tar has therefore not been allowed to be used for many years. It may still be present in older buildings, where it was mainly used as an adhesive for floor coverings, wood impregnation and waterproofing, but also as roofing felt containing tar. Tar and bitumen cannot be easily distinguished visually.

Roofing felt, bitumen residues, buckets with bitumen residues and products containing tar must therefore be disposed of via the SuperDrecksKëscht.

Direct contact with the products should be avoided during handling and transport. For this purpose, appropriate safety measures should be applied for packaging and transport:

• Wear gloves, as well as long-sleeved and dirt-repellent clothing.
• If possible, use a mouth guard (e.g. FFP2 mask).
• Then pack the products in a tight plastic bag.

• Dispose of roofing felt, bitumen waste and similar products via SuperDrecksKëscht mobil or at the Resource Centre.
• Since it cannot be ruled out that the products contain tar, they should be handled with the utmost care.
• Take care during packaging and transport
• Before laying new roofing felt, the old roofing felt should be removed and disposed of properly.

These go to the recycling enterprise Recyfuel in the substitute fuel production for the cement industry. In this way, they are sensibly utilised for energy. The high temperatures in the cement industry also ensure that no pollutants are released into the environment.

Disposal of bitumen residues, hazardous packaging with bitumen and waste containing tar:
These go to the waste management company Indaver and are treated there in a high-temperature incineration plant in such a way that no pollutants are released.

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.

Paper and cardboard are made out of cellulose fiber. Recycling paper is very important as the use of recycled paper means protecting the environment during production (for instance by a lower contamination of used water) and significantly reduces woodcutting. Energy and fresh water consumption is also reduced. Take a look on the directions about the ecological office equipment on www.shop-green.lu.

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, pizza boxes, parchment paper, tracing paper, photo paper, cash register coverings, handkerchiefs and napkins belong in the residual waste!

If ink cartridges or toner cartridges are empty, fine residuals remain inside; toner powder may be cancerous. Empty ink and toner cartridges as well as most media memories do not belong into the household waste and can be recycled.

Use toner and ink cartridges which can be refilled. This is economic and protecting the environment. Only print information, which are necessary, as less can sometimes be more. Print on both sides.

Ink and Toner cartridges are cleaned, electric parts are checked and if necessary replaced. They are refilled and after a quality check they return to resellers. After refilling they are checked and return to resellers. The non-rechargeable batteries are recycled (material recovery). The plastic parts and metal parts are recycled. The waste toner is heat treated to produce energy.

Magnet tapes, audio and video tapes, CDs and DVDs are sorted according to types and then recycled (material recovery) in special installations. Audio cassettes and disks are used for energy production.

The collection of non-commercial electrical / electronic equipment takes place via the collection system for electrical / electronic waste ecotrel.

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!

Explosive materials and ammunition – what is the right way to behave?

The ‘normal’ consumer does not come into contact with such products ? As a rule, this is true, but things often turn out differently than you think.

Ammunition from the Second World War is rarely found nowadays, but used ammunition from the military or especially the hunting sector turns up again and again at Resources Centers in Luxembourg. Even a hand grenade, obviously from the Balkans, was found at a Luxembourg Resources Center.

More often, however, chemical substances are delivered to SDK or Resources Centers that are explosive or contain explosive substances. These can be fireworks that have not been used for some reason or chemical substances such as picric acid from laboratories, including school laboratories.

The dangers resulting from explosives and ammunition do not really need to be pointed out. They are always classified as dangerous. Regularly around New Year’s, one finds news of serious injuries caused by fireworks.

Explosives and ammunition can be triggered by shock, heat and static discharges. Not only when it comes to ammunition, where the projectile effect is involved, is there a danger to life. Explosions can produce toxic gases, oxygen is extracted from the air, the resulting high temperatures can start fires, and the overpressure can cause hearing damage.

Lighters, aerosol cans and modern refrigeration equipment contain flammable gas.
Treat gas bottles with the necessary care!
Many old refrigerators even have CFC that are harmful for ozone and climate.
Many gases contribute to the greenhouse effect, if there occurs an uncontrolled release.
Fire extinguishers contain an extinguishing agent in pressurized metal cylinders resistant to pressure, which is released by greenhouse gas (mostly CO₂) in powder and liquid extinguishers.

Ask for advice from professional resellers when buying fire extinguishers and buy the appropriate device for your specific need. Ensure regular maintenance.

If possible use refillable aerosol systems or pump spray.

Still usable gas bottles can be refilled after proper treatment. Otherwise, the gas is collected and incinerated and the metal goes to the metal recycling.

Fire extinguishers are dismounted as appropriate and powders separated according to type. Metals are recycled and plastic parts undergo thermal treatment.

The metals from the spray cans can be recovered – the residual contents are used thermally.

In the case of PU foam cans, the metals are sent for material recycling. A large part of the propellant gases and PU foam components can be recycled to the production of new PU foam cans.

Lighters, among other things, and not removable products are incinerated.

CFCs from refrigerating appliances are destroyed.

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.

Chemical substances may be toxic, cancerous, caustic, inflammable or fire promoting. They are harmful for the soil, water, plants, animals and humans.

Bitumen and products containing bitumen may contain volatile, cancerous substances. They aren’t biodegradable.

Most solvents are inflammable, more or less dangerous for human beings and the environment.

Acid and alkali cleaners are caustic, i.e. they destroy the human tissue and contaminate water.

Use the right quantity of chemical substances and enquire with professional resellers about environment friendly alternatives.
Before buying specific cleaners, check if you really need them.

In many cases less is more and using the right dosage can help you save money.

Use detergents and cleaning products which are environmental friendly. Take notes of guidance on www.shop-green.lu.

Solvents collected separately are distilled and returned into the economic circuit.
Mixtures of solvents undergo high temperature treatment in appropriate installations. Chemicals undergo high temperature treatment in appropriate installations in order to destroy toxic substances.

IMPORTANT! Chemicals, solvents and cleaning agents do not belong in the residual waste, toilet or sink! Do not mix or incinerate!

Today, only pollutant-free/low-emission light sources are generally in circulation. Modern LED lamps are basically electronic devices. In the past, however, there was still a whole range of pollutant-containing illuminants, especially mercury compounds were used as illuminants. Quicksilver can cause damage to the brain and nerves or the metabolism. Low-pressure sodium lamps contain elementary sodium, which reacts heavily with water.

Use energy saving lamps to save electricity and money. Ask your reseller which types are appropriate for your use. Take a look on the directions on www.shop-green.lu.

Non-contaminated lamps are shredded and metal and glass are recycled. Lamps containing quicksilver are treated in a closed installation to recycle all components inclusive quicksilver. Quicksilver in products containing quicksilver is retrieved by distillation. LED lamps are treated and recycled like electronic devices.

Product receiver with further information on recycling: Indaver Relight

The collection of non-commercial electrical / electronic equipment takes place via the collection system for electrical / electronic waste ecotrel.

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!

Medication substances may, if handled inappropriately or in high concentrations, harm human beings and the environment. This count also for cosmetics. Used syringes and cannulas represent a significant potential danger for disposal and thus should be collected in the safety boxes.

Only buy the quantities you actually need. Use safety boxes (available in pharmacies) to collect syringes and cannulas.

Unusable medication and cosmetics as well as syringes and cannulas undergo heat treatment in appropriate installations.

IMPORTANT! Not in the household waste! Special collection containers for syringes and cannulas are available free of charge at the resources center or at the SDK.

The collection of medication and syringes is carried out together with the pharmacies in Luxembourg (Syndicat des Pharmaciens Luxembourgeois).

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.

Empty containers of dangerous substances generally still contain some remainders of their dangerous content, which may lead to dangerous reactions. In particular small quantities of inflammable substances may form highly dangerous gas-air mixtures, which can explode by a spark.

Use solvent sparingly and take whenever it’s possible low-solvent or water-soluble products. Insert solvent as possible in the circuit. Provide adequate ventilation of the workplace and filtering the extracted air.

In general, problematic products should be avoided as far as possible.

In the case of Shop Green/cleaning agents in particular, the packaging is also evaluated.

Plastic-Containers of chemicals, acids, brines, cleaners and photochemical products are recycled (material recovery).

Since 2023, containers of oils, fats and fuels can also be recycled (production of PE regrind). These are first shredded at SDK and then cleaned and further treated at KL Recycling in Hürth near Cologne.

Containers of pesticides, fertilizers and chemicals are subjected to heat treatment.

IMPORTANT! Not in the household waste!

Paint and lacquers contain pigments (coloring), solvents, bonding agents and other additives. Heavy metal compounds were frequently used as coloring agents in the past but also recent paint and lacquer (for instance without solvents) contain additives as preservatives, which are dangerous for health.

Use solvent free water lacquers as well as natural oils and waxes for wood treatment. Avoid using paint containing solvents. Use paints and lacquers that are environmentally friendly. See also the directions on www.shop-green.lu.

Recycling of metal an plastic containers, use leftover paints and lacquers as a substitute fuel.

SDK collects more than 1,000 tonnes of old paints every year, including non-negligible quantities of interior wall paint. In general, SDK always uses the resource potential tool to look for product recipients that produce secondary raw materials within the framework of modern recycling processes and thus implement practical circular economy. However, this was not possible with the old colours. So far, these have been processed into substitute fuels, which is a progress compared to the previously usual problem waste incineration, but means a downcycling and is therefore not yet optimal. Peinture’s Robin in Useldange and the SDK now show with RobinLoop how to close regional material flows.

For RobinLoop, old paints collected from citizens are primarily used for the production of recycled paint. Currently, this concerns white interior wall paint. After a two-stage quality control at SDK and Peintures Robin, the old paint is used to produce new paint.

IMPORTANT! Not in the household waste!

Product receiver:
Recyfuel, B-Engis

In addition to the desired effect on pest and weed, pesticides are frequently toxic for other plants, animals and the human being as well. In particular older products frequently contain highly dangerous substances for health, but even environment friendly substances may be harmful and destroy the natural balance between plants, beneficial animals and pest. Inappropriately disposed of animal corpses are dangerous for the human being and the environment. Products against voles based phosphides should not come into contact with water (danger of ignition and explosion).

Ask your reseller or organisms for the protection of the environment about alternative preparations or methods. Only use as much manure and pesticides as is absolutely necessary. Use organic manure as for instance compost or horse manure and proceed to an analysis of the soil quality to assess the needs for manure.

You can find valuable information in the context of the campaign “without pesticides” on www.ounipestiziden.lu.

Pesticides and manure, which are no longer used, undergo heat treatment in appropriate installations.

IMPORTANT ! Do not throw pesticides and fertilizers into the waste, toilet or sink! Do not mix or burn !

Detailed information on pesticides and alternatives can be found on the website: www.ounipestiziden.lu.

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.

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.

The Luxembourg producer system Valorlux takes care of packaging from households and other standard household packaging.

A high quality recycling requires the absolute separate collection of the material. Not only should the products be made out of the same basic plastic material (for instance PE) but they also have to come from the same field of application as only in this case will the characteristics of the material match.

Use the returnable packaging system from your supplier. Use packaging materials (for instance packaging chips) several times if possible.

Preparation of the various separately collected plastic materials for the production of new products and return into the economic circuit. Contaminated or compound plastic undergoes thermal treatment.

Important! Not in the household waste!

The Luxembourg producer System Valorlux is in charge of packaging from households and other common household packaging (for example drinks).

Various plastic products are made out of specific materials, which if collected separately may be used in the production of other high valuable products.

A high quality recycling requires the absolute separate collection of the material. Not only should the products be made out of the same basic plastic material but they also have to come from the same field of application. Try to work as precise as possible and avoid cutting, this saves waste and money.

Tubes are treated separately according to the material. They are shredded, washed, ground and the granulate is used in the production of new tubes.

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.

Asbestos is a natural, fine fiber rock with a number of usable characteristics. The danger of asbestos is linked to the sharp fiber form, which penetrates into the lung and can destroy its sensitive tissue (asbestosis). While handling asbestos containing products, avoid to generate dust and wear a dust protection mask during all works with such products. You should in no case break the asbestos cement sheets.

In general, new products do not contain asbestos and are not dangerous for health.

Disposal of asbestos containing substances and materials on a special waste disposal site.

Important! Do not dispose of in the residual waste !

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.

The basic raw material to produce rubber is natural rubber, providing from latex, the secretion of the tropical rubber tree. In addition to natural rubber, synthetic rubber types are available with similar characteristics.

Ask your reseller about recycled tires, this saves money and raw material. Regularly check tire pressure, it saves materials and reduce fuel consumption.

To be recycled, rubber products and tires are shredded and materials are separated by metal separators and wind sieving. Metal goes to the old metal recycling, rubber granulate is used as fuel material in the production of floor tiles and cement.

Industrial oils and greases, fuels and emulsions contaminate water and soil and are inflammable.

When used oil drops to the ground water, the water will become undrinkable. Due to the combustibility a safe storage is important.

Mineral oils contaminated by solvents or other organic fluids may not be treated. The highly toxic PCB (poly-chlorated biphenyl) was used in the seventies as additive in electric oil radiators, condensers and transformers and may still exist in older devices.

Waste prevention through clean work and adequate application techniques.

Use recycling oils with long lifetimes and machines and appliances with low oil consumption.

Uncontaminated mineral oils are recycled. Emulsions are separated and the oil used as energy carrier. Contaminated oil and oils containing PCB undergo high temperature treatment. Contaminated fuels undergo thermal treatment.

Separator contents undergo chemical / physical treatment in special installations to allow for thermal recycling of the oil.

Product receivers SDK :

www.oelschirra.de

www.ks-recycling.de

Airbags and safety belt tensioners should be removed or deactivated before further treatment of the car. Catalysts contain precious metals (platinum, rhodium) and do not belong into waste. Brake liquid contains glycol ether and additives, cooling liquid contains ethylene glycol and water. Chock absorbers contain oil. Addblue consists of urea compounds.
Sanding waste and abrasives may, according to the processed product, contain heavy metals and organic contamination.

Filters, which are in contact with or filter dangerous substances as oils, greases or paint become dangerous material themselves.

Proceed to a separate collection of the various substances to allow for their recycling.

Brake and cooling liquid as well as oil and metal from chock absorbers can be recycled and re-introduced into the substance circuit. Precious metals from catalysts also undergo treatment. Airbags and safety belt tensioners are dismounted and undergo thermal (plastic) and material (metal) treatment. Addblue undergo thermal treatment.

Oil and diesel filter are shredded at a recycling site. Metal and oil are recycled. Plastic and paper undergo thermal treatment. Spray cabin filter and oil contaminated products undergo high temperature treatment.

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.

Mineral construction material is inert, i.e. it has no impact on the environment and can be deposited on disposal sites. A better solution however is to use this waste for the production of new construction material, for instance in the road construction, etc. Mineral fibers do not belong into the construction waste but are collected separately and recycled. Gypsum waste should be collected separately.

The condition for recycling and deposition on disposal site is that the material is not contaminated with dangerous substances as for instance paint, oils or coatings and does not contain third substances as plastic or wood.

Mineral construction material is recycled by shredding and sieving the material. This process allows removing third substances as paper, metal (as nails). It can then be used again for instance in the road construction.

Contern SA takes back old concrete parts for reuse in the production of new products. This is also certified with SDK’s resources potential.

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.

There are currently two installations in Luxembourg for the disposal of waste from residential areas. Two disposal sites (SIGRE, Buchholtz-Muertendall close to Flaxweiler and SIGRE, Fridhaff-Erpeldange close to Diekirch) as well as an incineration site (SIDOR close to Leudelange).

Collect used valuable material and waste to be composted separately and not in the ton for remaining waste. This helps to reduce the quantity of such waste and can help you save money. Dangerous substances to not belong to the remaining waste as this can create problems on the disposal site and in the incinerator.

Waste from residential areas is burnt in a domestic waste incinerator or disposited on controlled disposal sites.

New technologies allow to process vegetal greases to produce high quality bio-diesel which can be used in diesel vehicles or bio-heating centrals.

Approximately 94 % of the collected kitchen fat and oil by the SDK are used for the production of biodiesel, another part is used directly to heat the SDK center in Colmar-Berg. Only a small part is used for energetic valorisation due to contamination.

All trucks and vans and even part of the cars from the SDK continue to use biodiesel. In 2014 the heating installations were centralized on the site and switched to direct operation with used kitchen fat and oils.

In order to optimize the use of used fats and oils in an ecological and economical way for the purpose of the circular economy, the German REDcert certification system is applied since 2014. The system is certifying a sustainable use of biomass in compliance with the German biomass sustainability provision, which was recognized by the EU Commission at the European level. Within this frame, all product flows are precisely documented and processed separately as to their origin (separation by plant / animal origin – cf also www.redcert.org).

Kitchen oils and greases should never be dumped into the sewers as they can be clogged and can impact the functioning of water treatment plants. Avoid unnecessary quantities of water, frying and roasting remainders in greases and oil as these substances can prevent recycling.

Kitchen oils and greases are directly used for central heating or processed in a processing plant to become bio-diesel (methyl ester of fat acid FME). Contaminated greases and oils have to undergo heat treatment in appropriate installations.

SDK works together with the following processing plants:
– Münzer Bioindustrie
– BFS GmbH
– Biowerk Sohland

IMPORTANT! Not in the household waste! Special collection containers for kitchen oils and fats are available free of charge at the resources center or at SDK.