📣 FOR INTERNATIONALS NEW TO GERMANY
Waste separation in Germany isn’t just important—it’s the law. Join our crash course and gain the confidence to handle it all in just one afternoon.
Understand the rules, avoid fines, and adapt smoothly to life in Germany—everything you need to know about waste separation made simple and stress-free.
One of my biggest culture shocks!
👋 Hey, I’m Jen! I was born and raised in Guatemala and have been living in Germany since 2012.
I remember the mix of emotions I felt when I first realized just how much effort was needed to separate trash properly in Germany.
On one hand, I was thrilled to be in a country that took recycling seriously. On the other hand, I felt completely overwhelmed because I didn’t understand the basic principles of the system.
In my apartment alone, there were six different trash cans, each with its own specific purpose.
And stepping outside, I was met with even more colored bins, leaving me more confused than ever.
One morning, as I was exiting my apartment building, I saw a printed note from a neighbor glued to the the door.
In this note, they were complaining about wrong waste separation. Specifically, how electronics SHOULD NOT be thrown away in the general trash!
Ooops, I was guilty of this 🙈.
I felt horrible! Even though the note was not addressed to me personally, I totally felt ‘caught’.
For months, I left batteries and broken electronics lying around at home, simply because I didn’t know where or how to dispose of them correctly.
I NEEDED ANSWERS
A German coworker to the rescue!
I knew that having all this trash lying around my apartment was not sustainable.
So, very shyly, I asked a coworker about the rules of separating trash and where to throw what.
They were super kind and explained the basic principles to me.
Once I got the hang of the rules, separating waste became super easy!
I had the confidence that I was doing it properly.
NOT JUST ME…
A lot of newcomers struggle with separting trash in Germany
Once I figured out how to properly sort the most common items in Germany, new international coworkers started coming to me with questions about the rules.
Waste separation quickly became a funny yet frustrating topic for all of us.
There was always some new item that no one knew in which bin it belonged to.
We didn’t want to keep on annoying our German coworkers…
So, we tried our best to search for the answers online.
Most of the time, we’d hit a dead end and still be unsure of the right answer 😅.
Fast forward to 2020…
Yvonne (my German wife and co-founder) and I start Simple Germany with the goal to help internationals settle into life in Germany more smoothly.
Soon, people began reaching out with their questions.
And guess what was one of the most common topics they asked about?
How to throw specific items properly!
In an effort to help as many internationals as possible, we turned to our Instagram community and asked them what they found most confusing about waste separation.
The number of questions I received was overwhelming!
The main questions came up for ‘special’ items like:
🧦 Clothes
📺 E-waste (computer monitor, batteries, broken appliances)
👨🍳 Cooking oil
🍽️ Broken utensils (pans, pots, plates, cutlery)
🐶 Dog and cat poop
💊 Medical waste (old medicine, syringes)
🧴 Personal hygienic containers (shampoo bottles, deodorants, hair spray)
🍕 Pizza boxes
🧾 Receipts
AND THEN…
We discovered something crazy!
While researching answers to help other internationals, we discovered that waste separation rules aren’t the same everywhere in Germany!
Each city can have its own set of guidelines!
Learning to separate waste is already tricky, but it becomes even more confusing when the rules change from one city to the next.
What works in one place might not work in another. For example, some cities want you to separate different kinds of plastic.
Others let you put all plastics together. In some areas, you have an organic bin. In others, you don’t.
In some cities, you even have special pizza containers.
These differences can make anyone feel confused and unsure about what to do.
Especially if you live in cities like Berlin or Munich.
This inspired us to create a crash course that simplifies the complexities of waste separation, breaking down all the nuances in a clear and straightforward way.
INTRODUCING
‘Recycling Made Simple’: A video crash course about waste separation in Germany for foreigners
‘Recycling Made Simple’ is the fastest way to learn the principles of waste separation in Germany.
What will you get with this bundle?
MODULE 1
💡 The basics
In this lesson, you’ll understand the why behind Germany’s recycling rules.
MODULE 2
🗑️ Trash separation at home
Learn the basics of sorting and managing waste at home. Understand the purpose of each bin—paper, plastics, organics, and residual waste and learn how to safely dispose of glass and hazardous materials.
MODULE 3
♻️ Miscellaneous trash disposal
Master how to dispose of tricky items in quick, 2-minute videos (max). Learn the proper way to get rid of used batteries, printer cartridges, cooking oil, medicines, syringes, Christmas trees, and hazardous items like paint.
MODULE 4
🍾 The deposit system (Pfand)
You’ll learn about Germany’s bottle deposit system (Pfand). By the end of this module, you’ll know how to spot Pfand items and return them correctly to get your money back.
ABOUT THE CREATORS
JEN & YVONNE
Hey, we’re Jen & Yvonne, the creators of Simple Germany. Our goal is to create English content to empower internationals to settle into life in Germany more smoothly.
Jen is originally from Guatemala, and Yvonne is from Germany. Jen has been living in Germany since 2012 and met Yvonne in 2014. Yvonne has guided Jen in her journey to settle into life in Germany. From insurance to citizenship, to understanding the German culture a bit better.
Through Simple Germany, we want to share all the strategies and tips that have helped Jen reach a happy immigrant life.
THIS IS IT!
‘Recycling Made Simple’: A crash course for foreigners to learn how to properly separate waste in Germany!
Get Instant access now for only €19!
✔ Master the basics of sorting waste at home. Learn the purpose of each bin—paper, plastics, organics, and general waste—and how to safely dispose of glass and hazardous materials
✔ Understand how waste separation rules vary across cities. Get practical tips to adapt no matter where you live in Germany.
✔ Quick, 2-minute videos (max) to tackle tricky items like batteries, cooking oil, medicines, syringes, and hazardous materials. Learn the correct disposal methods to stay compliant with German regulations.
✔ Discover how Germany’s deposit system works. Learn to identify Pfand items, return them properly, and ensure you’re not losing money by discarding recyclable containers.
YOUR PURCHASE IS NON-REFUNDABLE.
Due to the instant access nature of this digital product, we will not be able to process any refunds for any reason. You will receive the product immediately after purchase. Since it is a digital product, there is no way to return it.
Disclaimer: Any results or successes stated on this website and in the product are individual results. Please understand individual results cannot be guaranteed. We are not implying you will achieve similar results. We are using these references for example purposes only. Your results will vary and depend on many deciding factors, such as (but not limited to), your background, experience, and commitment.
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