Based on the surveys , in theory, we Hungarians have the willingness to sort our trash, but there is still room for improvement. Sometimes we don't know exactly which bin a piece of waste belongs in, so we want to clear this up with the next post.
What options do we have?
In addition to communal waste collectors, there are selective waste collectors located at the house , or the so-called door-to-door waste collection. We can also take the sorted waste to the selective waste collection islands or to waste yards, awareness-raising and reuse centers.
The essence of selective waste collection is recycling. This actually ensures that the raw materials and energy used to produce our objects are not wasted. This is because recycling different materials requires less energy than extracting, transporting and processing the raw materials needed to produce new products. Recycling waste can reduce soil and air pollution , as the waste does not end up in a landfill, from where it then poisons our environment through various fermentation processes. Recycling is a common task with which we can all contribute to protecting our planet.
At CYCLE , for example, we recycle wastewater and make cleaning products from it. At the same time, the packaging of our products is also made from recycled plastic.
Four types of waste can be collected directly at homes: paper, metal, plastic, and beverage cartons.
What can go in the blue container?
The blue lidded container is the collection point for paper-based waste . This means that newspapers, booklets, envelopes, books, corrugated paper, wrapping paper and cardboard boxes can go here. Boxes and cardboard boxes must be flattened before being thrown away so that they take up as little space as possible. Only clean paper waste can be collected in the blue lidded containers. From January 2022, cardboard beverage cartons (fruit juice, milk cartons) must be washed and collected in the yellow lidded bins!
Prohibited : Do not throw food scraps and other papers containing oily, greasy, solvent-based contaminants into the container, including used tissues, wipes and napkins! It is also prohibited to throw tracing paper, fax paper, diapers and used sanitary napkins into this bin!
What is the yellow lid bin for?
The yellow container is used for plastic-based waste, i.e. soft drink and mineral water PET bottles, household bottles, cosmetic bottles and their unscrewed caps, as well as clear foil and bags. But it also includes milk, sour cream and yoghurt cups, and , as mentioned above, beverage cartons. It is important that everything is washed before throwing it away, and plastic bottles must be placed in the bin flattened.
In the case of selective waste collection at the door, metal-based waste is placed in the yellow-lidded bin along with plastic-based waste. In other words, various household metal waste (e.g. metal caps ) and metal beverage cans should be collected here. In the case of selective waste collection at the door, metal and plastic waste are separated afterwards.
You can throw these types of plastic in the yellow bin:
- PET: Code 1
- HDPE: Code 2
- LDPE: Code 4
- PP: Code 5
Plastics marked with codes 1, 2, 4 and 5 are recyclable and can be thrown away in the yellow bin, while plastics marked 3, 6 and 7 can only be disposed of in municipal waste yards. These markings are usually found on the bottom of bottles.
Prohibited : You must not throw greasy, oily, household chemical-contaminated bottles, margarine boxes, or plastic containing food residue into the yellow bin. Furthermore, you must not put toothbrushes, plastic toys, nylon stockings, CDs, tape recorders, or video cassettes in the bin. Metal scraps must be rinsed and placed clean, as must bottles.
What are the gray, green, and white collectors for?
Metal-based waste goes into the gray bin , except for selective waste collection at the door, in which case it goes into the yellow-lidded bin with the plastics.
Colored bottles (wine and beer bottles) will turn green . It is important that the caps are unscrewed!
You can throw white bottles (mason jars, mineral water bottles, glass bottles for soft drinks) into the white container , of course, without a lid or cap.
Prohibited : We cannot throw ceramics, neon tubes, window glass, mirrors, light bulbs, glasses, porcelain or medicine bottles into the containers intended for glass (or any other containers).
Styrofoam should not be placed in the communal garbage bin or in the selective trash , as its recycling has not yet been resolved. These must be disposed of in waste yards, just like hazardous waste!
What is considered municipal waste and what should not be thrown in the municipal trash?
Many people think that you can throw anything in these bins, but this is not the case at all. Recyclable waste (paper, plastic and metal) cannot be placed in the communal bin for mixed waste collection, as cannot liquids, toxic, flammable and explosive materials, construction and demolition waste, litter, animal carcasses, and electrical and electronic waste. In some places, it is also forbidden to put green garden waste in it. Communal waste is collected in the dark green and dark grey bins.
What can we take to the landfills?
Anyone can drop off selectively collected waste at the waste yards, where only uncontaminated waste that has been sorted by type of waste is accepted. There are currently 17 waste collection yards operating in Budapest.
You can drop off at any waste disposal site:
paper : newspapers, books, wrapping paper, cardboard, corrugated paper
plastic : exclusively mineral water and soft drink (PET) bottles and their screw-on caps, plastic bottles (PP, HDPE) plastic bags, foils (LDPE) exclusively packaging plastics
metal packaging waste : soft drink and beer cans, and tin cans
colored glass : wine, beer and champagne bottles (only hollow bottles)
white glass : beverage, preserve and perfume bottles (only hollow bottles)
Styrofoam : only completely clean, white packaging Styrofoam
protective packaging of technical items
What hazardous waste can be dropped off at waste yards?
Hazardous waste that can be dropped off at any waste yard:
electrical waste : washing machine, refrigerator, dishwasher, hair dryer, vacuum cleaner, iron, electric saw, lawn mower
electronic waste : computer, printer, monitor, mobile phone, hi-fi equipment, television, radio, video camera, camera
damaged solar panels : only from the public, and only in residential quantities
fluorescent tubes and light fixtures : all light fixtures
dry cells and portable small batteries
automotive starter batteries : acid starter batteries
used cooking oil and its packaging : used cooking oil and its bottle
used oil and its packaging : used car oil and its bottle
Hazardous waste that can only be dropped off at certain waste yards:
construction and demolition waste (sitt) : up to a weight limit of 150 kg and can only be delivered in bags to the relevant waste yards
paint waste and its packaging : water-based and solvent-based paints, varnishes, adhesives (i.e. liquid hazardous waste generated in households)
passenger car tire : passenger car or van only
(not truck or agricultural machinery tires)
Bulky waste : bulky waste that has become unnecessary in the household (e.g. worn-out furniture, mattresses, carpets, suitcases) that cannot be placed in the trash due to their size. We can drop these off at the relevant waste yards up to a maximum weight limit of 150 kg.
