The Zero Waste Guide for Frankfurt: Reducing waste means protecting the climate

Frankfurt’s organic waste is processed in the state-of-the-art fermentation plant of RMB Rhein-Main Biokompost GmbH in the Osthafen district. In just 21 days, kitchen scraps, green waste, and other organic waste are turned into valuable biogas and nutrient-rich compost.

The plant produces an average of 140% of its own electricity requirements and feeds the surplus into the grid. The heat generated is also used—a prime example of combined heat and power generation

At the same time, around 15,000 tons of wood chips are produced annually from Frankfurt’s green waste – after a short storage period, they are ready for use as energy or mulch material.

What matters: No plastic in the organic waste bin! Even small amounts of contaminants can hinder the fermentation process and significantly reduce the quality of valuable compost. And that would be a real shame—because organic waste not only produces fertile soil, but also climate-friendly energy. A closed, regional cycle that strengthens our soil, saves fossil fuels, and helps reduce greenhouse gases.

Depending on their needs, households have access to bins of various sizes (120–1,100 l) or yellow bags.

The packaging is carefully separated in sorting plants:

• Metals: Tinplate is removed using magnets, aluminum using eddy currents.
• Plastics & composites: Using near-infrared sensors and camera technology, machines identify various materials such as PET, PE, films, or beverage cartons.
• Manual work: Employees sort out contaminants such as dirty packaging or incorrect items.
• Recycling: Clean fractions are used to make new products, such as films, plastic profiles, or recycled lids. Mixed plastics are used to generate energy or undergo chemical recycling.

Improperly disposed waste is a persistent problem: Even in Frankfurt, residual waste, especially, glass or cardboard still too often ends up in the yellow bin. This complicates sorting and lowers the recycling rate.

What counts: Zero waste starts at home: Those who separate waste properly keep materials in the cycle and make a very concrete contribution to conserving resources. This is because recycled packaging consumes less energy than newly produced packaging—for example, recycled aluminum saves up to 95% energy. Less new production also means fewer emissions—and less waste in incineration.

There are over 1,300 glass containers in Frankfurt, separated into white, green, and brown glass. In addition, underground containers in central locations ensure clean collection. Emptying is carried out by FES, usually every 14 days, or more frequently if necessary.

The journey of glass

1. AnliefeDelivery: The collected glass is taken to the waste transfer station (AUA) in Fechenheim.
2. Pre-sorting: Automatic and manual processes remove coarse contaminants such as ceramics, porcelain, stones, and metal parts.
3. Metal separation: Metal closures are sorted out using magnetic and eddy current technology – so lids can remain on the glass.
4. Crushing & cleaning: The glass is crushed into fragments (<60 mm), dried, and organic residues are removed.
5. Optical sorting: Color cameras and air jets precisely separate glass by color and remove any remaining contaminants.
6. Recycling: The high-quality glass shards are pressed into bales and sent to glassworks, where they are melted down and turned into new bottles or glassware.

Glass Counts: A True Recycling Champion
Recycling glass is a great example of how smart sorting helps save energy and raw materials—while protecting the environment in multiple ways.
If you need to dispose of glass in uncommon colors like red or blue, it’s best to place it in the green glass container.
But be careful: Incorrect items like ceramics, window glass, or vases are a constant problem. They can disrupt the entire recycling process.

It’s Free in Our City
Residents of Frankfurt can schedule bulky waste pickup at no cost. If your old furniture is still in good shape, consider donating it to Neufundland, where it can bring joy to someone else.

What happens to bulky waste?

Items left out for pickup are loaded into a compactor truck and taken to a sorting facility. There, materials are roughly separated into different waste streams—metals, for example, are sent for recycling. The remaining waste goes to the waste-to-energy plant, where it’s incinerated at over 1,000 °C and converted into electricity and district heating for Frankfurt households.

Wichtig: Es gibt ganz genaue Vorgaben, was zum Sperrmüll gehört. Es gibt ganz genaue Vorgaben, was zum Sperrmüll gehört. Schadstoffe wie Farben, Lacke oder Lösungsmittel sind kein Sperrmüll und müssen unbedingt separat über das Schadstoffmobil oder die Wertstoffhöfe Nord und West entsorgt werden.

The facts: 28,000 tons of bulky waste were collected in Frankfurt in 2023. However, the proportion of reusable items can be significantly increased through more targeted pre-sorting and conscious disposal. An old cupboard doesn’t have to go up in flames—often all you need is a screwdriver, and a new household will be happy. Checking early on whether furniture can be passed on saves resources and gives things a second life.