It is not always easy to tell what is packaging and what should be thrown in the bin. Here is a quick overview of how rubbish is categorised.

Hazardous waste

Examples:

• paint, glue, varnish
• chemicals
• e-waste – anything with a battery or a cord
• batteries, loose or built-in in devices or toys
• pharmaceutical products

Read more about how to sort hazardous waste.

Packaging

Packaging is any material used to enclose, protect or present a product until it is used or consumed. Sort according to the packaging material: glass (coloured or clear), plastic, metal and paper. If a piece of packaging consists of several materials that cannot be separated, sort it based on which material makes up the greatest proportion of the packaging. Caps, lids and other easily removable parts are sorted separately.

Examples of items that are not packaging are boxes for storing CDs, video cassettes and the like.

Read more about how to sort packaging.

Newspapers

You can put daily and weekly newspapers, magazines, office paper, advertising leaflets, catalogues and paperback books in the collection container for newspaper and recyclable paper.

However, you should not discard envelopes or post-it notes here. They should be put in the bin/combustible waste. Packing paper and gift wrap are discarded with paper packaging.

Read more about how to sort newspapers.

Other waste

Examples:

• food waste
• textile waste
• garden waste
• bulky waste
• residual waste: nappies, envelopes, etc.
• cars and car parts

You should also put plastics that are not packaging, like CDs and dish brushes, in the regular bin. However, some municipalities have special collection points for such plastics. You can take non-packaging metal and glass to your municipal recycling centre.