As you probably know, colored containers are now available almost everywhere for waste sorting. But do you know what goes where? We have prepared a comprehensive overview for you, thanks to which you will understand waste sorting once and for all. Be efficient and learn how to sort waste correctly. Let’s get started.
10 reasons to sort waste
There are several reasons to sort waste. Proper sorting is not only important from an ecological perspective, but also from an economic perspective. The most important arguments for sorting waste include:
- legal obligation (Section 12 of Act No. 185/2001 Coll.),
- environmental improvement,
- conservation of natural resources of raw materials and energy,
- reducing health risks from exposure to hazardous substances,
- reuse of waste materials,
- reducing the amount of waste in landfills,
- saving forests and improving fresh air,
- financial savings on waste disposal,
- support for recycled production,
- civic responsibility.
“In the Czech Republic, approximately 72% of the population sorts waste. We are in second place in the European ranking.”
What belongs where?
Waste sorting starts at home. Therefore, get special waste bins that are marked with the same colors as the containers in front of your house. This will make your job easier.
The containers for sorted waste are systematically categorized by color. The basic colors are blue for paper, green for glass, yellow for plastic, and orange for beverage cartons. However, in many cases, people throw waste into the containers that does not belong there at all. It is often tempting to do so. So let’s remind ourselves what exactly belongs where.
Sorted waste by container colors
Before each sorting of packaging materials, you should check the label with the recycling symbol and code. These are listed below for each waste material. Ideally, try to sort:
- Paper
- Glass
- Plastics
- Beverage cartons
- Biowaste
- Hazardous waste
- Electronics
- Mixed waste
Paper
This is the waste that Czech households produce in the largest amount. In the blue paper container:
you can throw away paper packaging, newspapers, magazines, notebooks, leaflets, cardboard, boxes, books, cardboard, but also papers with paper clips or even postal envelopes with foil windows,
You cannot throw away wet, greasy, carbonized, waxed or otherwise damaged paper, entire book volumes, thermal paper (receipts), multi-layer packaging, hygiene products or used diapers.
Recycling symbols
Glass
There are two types of containers used to sort glass. Colored glass goes in the green one, and clear glass goes in the white one. If there is only one type of container, you can put glass in it regardless of its color. You do not have to break the glass when putting it in the container.
Into the green container
you can throw away any colored and milky glass (e.g. non-returnable beverage bottles), empty medicine bottles, but also, for example, sheet glass from windows or doors,
You cannot throw away porcelain, ceramics, gilded and plated glass, wired glass, car glass, laboratory and cooking glass.
Into a white container
You can only throw away clear glass without chemical treatment or coloring, such as preserving jars, drinking glasses, etc.
You cannot throw away sheet glass (even clear), glass with chemical coloring, and others that belong in the green container.
Recycling symbols
Plastics
Plastics are the most space-consuming type of waste. It is therefore very important to deform and reduce it as much as possible when sorting – step on it, crush it, etc. In the yellow plastic waste container:
you can throw away plastic and plastic bags, foil, PET beverage bottles, plastic packaging from cosmetics, cleaning and laundry products, cups, CD covers, polystyrene and other plastic waste,
You cannot throw away PVC, foam, rubber, synthetic fiber textiles, Tetra Pak, lino, product packaging containing hazardous substances (chemicals, glues, thinners, oils, paints, etc.)
Note: In some, especially smaller, towns where there are no containers for beverage cartons, you can throw them in the plastic bins.
Recycling symbol
Beverage cartons
Beverage cartons are made up of several layers. They are called Tetra Pak. This waste is thrown into the orange-colored sorting containers. In these containers:
you can throw away boxes of wine, juices, milk and dairy products (e.g. cream), which must always be crushed and their volume reduced,
You cannot throw away soft bags from ready-made foods, coffee, tea, etc.
Note: In some municipalities, there are no containers for beverage cartons, so this waste can be thrown into the blue bin for paper or the yellow bin for plastic.
Recycling symbols
Biowaste
Biowaste containers are brown in color and only some biological waste is thrown into them, which can then be used for compost. In the biowaste container:
you can throw away fruit, vegetables, peels, tea, coffee, grass, leaves, flowers, weeds, eggshells, cardboard or peat pots, etc.,
You cannot throw away animal bedding, diapers, bones, meat, oil, spreads, leftover sauces, coal ash, cigarette butts, vacuum cleaner bags and other non-biodegradable waste.
Hazardous waste
Hazardous waste is a type of waste containing materials or substances that are extremely dangerous to life and the environment. These include substances that are explosive, flammable, irritating, toxic, infectious, carcinogenic, mutagenic, corrosive, etc. Pink containers are used for it. In these containers:
you can throw away paints, varnishes, thinners, adhesives, resins, stains, oils, fats, acids, pesticides, photochemicals, hydroxides, refrigerators, freezers, electric and car batteries, discharge lamps, galvanic cells, toners, inks, volatile substances, fluorescent lamps, electronics, medicines and other hazardous waste,
Do not throw away other non-hazardous waste.
Electronics
Almost all end-of-life electronic products can be returned to the retailer. In most cases, these retailers have containers for electronics, which are also divided into the collection of batteries, fluorescent and discharge lamps or small electrical appliances. White goods such as refrigerators, freezers or stoves can also be disposed of at electronics retailers. This is why you pay a so-called recycling fee. Special, usually red, containers are designated for electronic waste. In these containers:
you can throw away batteries, fluorescent lamps, discharge lamps and small electronics,
don’t throw anything else in.