Biowaste is an important part of a sustainable cycle. Through the correct utilization of biowaste, such as garden and kitchen waste, valuable natural resources can be saved and used. Composting and biogas production are just a few examples of how biowaste is put to good use in Germany. In this article you will find tips on the correct separation and disposal of biowaste as well as information on recycling and closing the biological cycle.
1. Introduction: Why biowaste as a sustainable cycle?
Biowaste plays a crucial role in closing the loop and promoting sustainability. Biowaste is biodegradable waste consisting of organic materials such as garden and kitchen waste, paper and agricultural products. In Germany, it accounts for almost 50% of all household waste. Reducing organic waste in households is crucial to conserving resources and reducing the ecological footprint. The organic waste garbage can and compost heaps in your own garden offer an effective way of separating and collecting organic waste. Through composting, organic waste can be recycled in an environmentally friendly way, which is also beneficial for agriculture. Biogas plants also offer another option for generating energy from organic waste. Recycling organic waste has a positive impact on the environmental balance, as it contributes to less waste being landfilled or incinerated, thus reducing both greenhouse gas emissions and costs. Innovative approaches to recycling and reusing biowaste products also help to promote a sustainable circular economy. Numerous cities have already successfully closed the loop with the help of biowaste and thus impressively demonstrate how a sustainable use of resources can be achieved.
2. Definition and composition of biowaste
Biowaste is an important part of a sustainable cycle. But what exactly is biowaste and what materials does it consist of? Biowaste includes all organic waste generated by households, gardens or agriculture. This includes, for example, garden and kitchen waste, paper, natural materials and animal excrement. According to data from the Federal Environment Agency, around 15 million tons of organic waste are produced in Germany every year. Proper recycling of this waste can help to save resources and reduce environmental pollution. For this reason, there are also special collection containers, such as the organic waste garbage can, in which organic waste can be collected separately. Composting organic waste is an environmentally friendly recycling method that turns organic waste into nutrient-rich compost, which in turn can be used as fertilizer. Biogas plants also play an important role in generating energy from organic waste. By making effective use of our bio-organic waste, a sustainable cycle can be closed and thus make a valuable contribution to conserving our resources.
3. The importance of reducing biowaste in households
Biowaste is an important part of a sustainable cycle as it is biodegradable and therefore a valuable resource for the environment. Reducing organic waste in households makes a significant contribution to reducing the amount of waste overall and therefore also to reducing the ecological footprint. There are various tips and tricks for separating and collecting organic waste correctly, such as filling the organic waste garbage can with kitchen and garden waste or composting in your own garden. Germany has already made progress in this area by implementing the separate collection of organic waste throughout the country. This is then recycled in an environmentally friendly way and helps to close the cycle. Data from the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) also shows that the proportion of biowaste in total waste in Germany has increased continuously since 2010. An even greater reduction in biowaste can therefore make a significant contribution to sustainability and focus on a resource-conserving economy.
4. Options for the separation and collection of biowaste
Effective separation and collection of biowaste is an important step towards a sustainable cycle. In Germany, there are various options for collecting and separating biowaste. One of these is the use of the organic waste garbage can, which was specially designed for organic waste. Alternatively, you can also create your own compost in the garden or use public composting facilities. In addition to organic waste such as fruit and vegetable waste, paper and natural materials such as green waste can also be disposed of in the organic waste garbage can. Correct separation of organic waste not only reduces the amount of residual waste, but also enables environmentally friendly recycling through composting or biogas plants. According to data from the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), around 11 million tons of bio-organic waste ended up in waste incineration in 2018 – an enormous potential for more sustainable recycling. Tips on the correct separation of organic waste can be found on the websites of cities and districts under the submenu “Waste” or “Organic waste”. The correct collection and recycling of organic waste is therefore an important contribution to reducing waste volumes and protecting our environment.
5. Composting as an environmentally friendly recycling method for organic waste
Composting is one of the most environmentally friendly methods of recycling organic waste. Composting converts organic waste into valuable nutrients for the soil and plants. In Germany, there are various ways to compost organic waste: in your own garden, at a communal composting site or via the organic waste garbage can. Most households already separate their organic waste and put it in the organic waste garbage can, but there is still a lot of potential for improvement.
The Federal Environment Agency (UBA), for example, recommends not putting paper and cardboard packaging in the organic waste garbage can, as these are often treated with chemical substances and can therefore contaminate the compost. Plastic bags should also not be used, as they are not biodegradable and are difficult to decompose.
If you don’t have your own garden or don’t have access to a communal composting area, you can also use commercial composters. Although these are somewhat more expensive than having your own composting facility in the garden, they offer the advantage of faster decomposition of the waste.
Overall, composting organic waste is an important way of reducing waste and protecting our nature and environment. With small tips and changes in everyday life, we can all help to close the cycle and use our resources more sustainably.
6. The role of biogas plants in generating energy from biowaste
Biogas plants play an important role in generating energy from biowaste. There are now over 9,000 biogas plants in Germany, which process around 26 million tons of biomass every year to generate electricity and heat. The plants use agricultural waste such as slurry and manure as well as biowaste from households and businesses. By using biogas from organic waste, fossil fuels can be saved, which in turn helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the resulting fermentation residue can be used as fertilizer in agriculture. The use of biogas plants is therefore an important step towards a sustainable circular economy – by recycling our organic waste sensibly, we close the cycle and contribute to the preservation of our natural environment.
7. Impact of recycling organic waste on the environmental balance sheet
Effective recycling of organic waste plays an important role in the environmental balance. In Germany, around 12 million tons of organic waste are produced every year, which usually ends up in landfills and thus becomes a burden on nature. However, the recycling of organic waste through composting or biogas plants is an environmentally friendly alternative to disposal in landfills. These recycling processes allow valuable nutrients to be recovered and energy to be generated, which leads to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. A study by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) even shows that comprehensive collection and recycling of organic waste could help to avoid around 17 percent of Germany’s greenhouse gas emissions. We should therefore all do our bit by collecting our biowaste separately and recycling it in an environmentally friendly way.
8. Innovative approaches to the recycling and reuse of biowaste products
An important aspect of the sustainable cycle of biowaste is the recycling and reuse of biowaste products. In Germany, millions of tons of biowaste are generated every year, which is often disposed of improperly. However, there are innovative approaches to putting this waste to good biological use. For example, organic waste can be used to produce fertilizers and bioplastics. Upcycling paper scraps or garden waste can also be a way of recovering valuable raw materials. Another approach is the use of biogas plants to generate energy from organic waste. This method not only helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also to secure a renewable energy supply. The sensible recycling of biowaste can create a closed cycle that conserves our resources and helps to protect our environment. It is therefore worth taking a closer look and finding creative solutions to make the best possible use of the value of biowaste products and thus make a contribution to sustainability.
9. Success stories: Cities that successfully close the loop with the help of biowaste
There are already several cities in Germany that are successfully closing the cycle with the help of biowaste. One example is the city of Freiburg im Breisgau, which has introduced a nationwide collection system for biowaste since 1992. The collected biowaste is used for composting and the resulting compost product is used in agriculture, among other things. In Berlin, too, there has been an increased focus on the recycling of biowaste in recent years. Here, biowaste and green waste are collected separately in organic waste garbage cans or recycling islands. The collected material is used to generate energy in biogas plants or processed into high-quality compost. These examples show that effective recycling of biowaste not only offers ecological benefits, but can also be economically viable. Consistent separation and collection of biowaste can conserve valuable resources and promote the sustainable use of our natural resources.
10. Conclusion: Sustainability through effective use of our bio-organic waste
We can make a major contribution to sustainability by making effective use of our bio-organic waste. Bio-waste, which until now has often simply ended up in conventional waste garbage cans, can provide valuable resources for composting or energy generation through separation and targeted collection. In Germany, there are already numerous successful examples of cities that have been able to successfully close the cycle with the help of biowaste. Environmentally friendly recycling of biowaste not only has a positive impact on the environmental balance, but also on agriculture and nature. Tips and data on the correct separation and disposal of biowaste are now easily accessible and should be taken into account by every household. The “Biowaste” submenu on the website of the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) offers a good source of guidance. By consciously handling our organic waste, we can actively contribute to conserving our resources and living more sustainably.
What goes into organic waste?
Various types of organic waste can be disposed of in organic waste. This includes fruit and vegetable waste, leftovers, coffee grounds and tea bags, for example. Egg shells, nutshells and plant waste such as flowers or grass cuttings can also be disposed of in organic waste.
However, no plastic parts or other non-biodegradable materials should end up in the organic waste. Care should therefore be taken to ensure that food packaging is removed beforehand.
It is also important that the organic waste is emptied regularly to avoid unpleasant odors and mold growth. The contents of the organic waste can then be processed in composting plants and used as fertilizer for plants.
By separating biodegradable waste in the household, you make an important contribution to waste avoidance and environmental protection.
What is organic waste?
Biowaste is organic waste produced by the decomposition of plant and animal materials. This includes, for example, fruit and vegetable waste, coffee filters, eggshells, but also meat, fish and bone waste as well as leftover food. Garden waste such as leaves and grass cuttings also fall under organic waste.
However, materials such as plastic packaging, cigarette butts and metal parts do not count as organic waste. These must be disposed of separately.
In Germany, organic waste is subject to a separate disposal obligation. It may not be disposed of with residual waste, but must be collected separately and composted or fermented. The aim is to reuse the organic components as raw materials for fertilizer or biogas and thus contribute to the conservation of resources.
Consistent separation of organic waste can also reduce the volume of residual waste. This can save costs and protect the environment at the same time.
What belongs in the organic waste garbage can and what doesn’t?
All organic waste such as fruit and vegetable waste, coffee filters, tea bags, eggshells and garden waste belong in the organic waste garbage can. Food waste such as meat and fish scraps, cheese or bread can also be put in the organic waste garbage can in small quantities. This waste is then processed into compost in a special facility.
However, no plastic bags, plastic or metal packaging, glass or paper may be placed in the organic waste garbage can. Diapers or animal excrement are also not allowed in the organic waste garbage can.
It is important that only organic waste is put in the organic waste garbage can, as this decomposes quickly and is therefore an important resource for the production of compost. In addition, separating waste correctly helps to conserve resources and reduce CO2 emissions.
To ensure that the correct waste ends up in the organic waste garbage can, packaging should be removed and food waste should be well separated. In addition, there are often special paper bags for organic waste that can be composted directly.
Why can’t I throw meat in the organic waste garbage can?
It is not advisable to throw meat waste in the organic waste garbage can. This is because meat is not easily biodegradable and starts to decompose quickly. The decomposition process can produce unpleasant odors and pests, which can be a nuisance to the environment. In addition, the meat in the organic waste bin can spoil quickly, releasing bacteria and pathogens that can spread to other organic waste. This can lead to the quality of the compost being impaired.
Instead, meat scraps should be placed in the residual waste, as this waste stream is better suited for the disposal of poorly biodegradable materials. There they are incinerated or landfilled together with other non-recyclable waste.
In summary, it is important to ensure that waste materials are correctly separated when disposing of them. This is the only way to ensure environmentally friendly disposal and avoid negative effects on people and the environment.
