Fill organic waste bins correctly

Incorrectly filled organic waste bins have been a problem for years - with negative consequences for the environment, compost quality and disposal costs. While checks were previously only carried out on a temporary or random basis, the town of Beckum and the waste management company Abfallwirtschaftsgesellschaft des Kreises Warendorf mbH (AWG) are now going one step further and carrying out regular checks.

The town of Beckum is relying on the support of AWG, which has hired an inspector on behalf of the participating towns and municipalities. Since this week, the employee has been checking the organic waste bins provided in Beckum for so-called contaminants - i.e. waste that does not belong in the organic waste bin.

"The background to this measure is that waste such as plastic bags, nappies or packaged food can only be sorted out again at the composting plant in Ennigerloh at great technical and financial expense. The higher costs are then charged to the respective cities and municipalities. Ultimately, it is all the citizens of our town who pay for this waste," explains Silke Stöppel, contact person for waste management in the town of Beckum. In addition, the impurities deteriorate the quality of the compost produced. "The aim of the permanent controls is to improve the quality of organic waste in the long term and sustainably," she emphasises.

Red and yellow cards

The organic waste bins are marked with yellow and red cards. A yellow card on the bin means that the inspector has identified incorrect waste and that better separation is possible, but the bin will be emptied. Anyone who finds a red card must sort the rubbish before the next collection date. The bin will not be emptied as it has been found to contain significant quantities of contaminants. Bins that have not received a card are filled in an exemplary manner.

Silke Stöppel points out that the checks take place immediately before or during the regular collection. Therefore, there may be delays on the collection day - both forwards and backwards. All organic waste bins must therefore be put out by 7 a.m. at the latest as usual.

With the continuous monitoring system, the town of Beckum and AWG want to send out a clear signal: Clean biowaste is a prerequisite for high-quality compost and a functioning circular economy.

Fill the organic waste bin correctly

That belongs in there:

• Kitchen waste such as fruit (including citrus fruit and bananas), vegetable and food waste
• Coffee grounds with filter, eggshells, tea bags
• Garden waste such as wilted flowers, lawn and shrub cuttings, leaves and wild herbs

That doesn't belong in there:

• Plastic waste bags labelled as "compostable" (these are prohibited under the waste regulations)
• Plastic and bin liners
• Disposable nappies, hygiene articles
• Hoover bags, cigarette butts and ash
• Barbecue, oven and wood ash
• Treated wood, road sweepings
• Leather, wool, hair, feathers, bones
• Flower pots, hydroponic substrate
• Cat and small animal litter, bird sand

Further information is available at www.ecowest-verbund.de/bio-kampagne