BSR information in English

Berliner Stadtreinigung (Berlin Waste Management, BSR) is responsible for the rubbish produced by two million households. In addition, we ensure clean streets, pavements and squares – and ensure safe travel in winter. On this page, we explain for you how waste disposal and rubbish separation work in Berlin.

Household waste includes all waste that cannot or can only with great expense be recycled. It is not, however, valueless. Everything that ends up in the grey household waste bin is processed by us in our modern waste-to-energy plant, among other places, into “green” energy and clean heat.

All organic waste belongs in the food bin. This helps us to protect the environment, climate and the public purse. This is because we make compost and biogas from the biological waste. The biogas we gain replaces 2.5 million litres of diesel a year, while the compost helps to replace chemical fertilisers.

The recycling bin is for packaging and other objects made of metal, plastic or composites. In Berlin, recycling bins are yellow or orange. The same things are disposed of in each.
If you properly separate recyclable materials (packaging, pots, cans, tins) you aid in their recycling. This preserves scarce raw materials such as crude oil or iron ore and supports climate protection. In Berlin, the companies ALBA and BSR share the disposal of recyclable waste.

Used paper is an important raw material. When properly separated, used paper helps save natural resources like wood and water. In Berlin alone, every year, the separated collection and reuse of card and paper saves more wood than is produced by the Grunewald.

Used glass can be fully recycled. It can be melted and reformed into bottles, containers and glasses as many times as you like. Jars and bottles do not need to be rinsed. But please ensure correct separation of white, green and brown glass. This is important for the subsequent recycling process.

You can dispose of up to 3 cubic metres of bulky waste with us per delivery without charge. Where? At one of our recycling centres. You can also get us to collect bulky waste. On the saver fare, this costs 50 Euro. You can find further information here.

Bulky waste includes the following:

• Disassembled large and small pieces of furniture
• Carpets, mattresses
• Timber from living areas
• Scrap such as old bicycles, prams and similar
• Laminate, door frames, doors and window frames made of plastic (without glass)
• Plastic parts such as guttering, pipes, cisterns and bath tubs
• Electrical devices
• Old textiles (in sacks)
• Household waste such as e.g. renovation waste in sacks and boxes (to a limited extent)

It is a shame to throw away certain things when other people could use them. For these, please use our free exchange and gift market.