Off base recycling: Germany requires residents to recycle correctly Published June 22, 2012 By Senior Airman Christopher Toon 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany - -- Germany has specific waste and recyclable material requirements Airmen and their families living off base must follow. Importance of recycling According to the National Recycling Coalition, a U.S. advocacy group dedicated to improving recycling, waste prevention, composting and reuse, recycling is beneficial to the preservation of the earth. Recycling is good for the environment and economy, reduces waste, creates jobs, saves energy, preserves landfill space, prevents global warming, reduces water pollution and protects wildlife. It is the law in Germany, and it also is a way to save money and the environment, said Tech. Sgt. Lewis Isassi, 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron contracting officer representative. What can be recycled and how is it sorted? Glass: Glass items, to include bottles and jars, need to be separated according to their color and recycled in appropriate containers in a resident's community. The three categories for separating glass are brown; white or clear; and green and all other colors. Paper and cardboard: Recycle paper and cardboard in the large blue containers or in a cardboard container depending on one's location. If a resident living in Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prum or Trier Counties are issued blue containers for collecting paper and cardboard. Residents of Bernkastel-Wittlich County should bundle paper and cardboard for pickup or recycle in large cardboard containers. Bulk trash: Larger items, including furniture, mattresses, carpets, rugs or bicycles, may be placed outside prior to bulk trash pickup days. If a resident does not know the collection schedule, they can ask their landlord or neighbors when bulk trash is collected. Electronic waste: Computers, electronics, TVs and other appliances can be taken to the base recycling center at Bldg. 64. Automotive related items: Used hydraulic fluid, anti-freeze or engine oil bottles can be brought to the base recycling center. Automobile batteries, wheels and tires can be taken to the auto hobby shop at Bldg. 189. Household hazardous waste: Batteries can be recycled in the blue bins at the commissary, Exchange or base recycling center. Military members can dispose energy saving bulbs at the base recycling center. For information about medical waste, call DSN 452-3154 or 06565-61-3154. There are collection points on base for military Department of Defense card holders. For off base, residents would need to contact the county they live in and ask how to dispose of hazardous waste, said Isassi. Clothes and shoes: These items can be donated to the Airman's Attic at Bldg. 408 or the thrift shop at Bldg. 410. People may also recycle clothes and shoes in the appropriate containers in their community. Yellow bags: A number of recyclables can be placed in the yellow recycling bag, to include plastic, metal, product packaging, cans, metal lids, aluminum foil, juice and milk cartons, plastic bags, plastic bottles, yogurt cups, and foam materials. If residents need more yellow bags, they can leave a note for the recycling collection company requesting more bags by writing "Bitte gelbe sacke, danke!" meaning "Please, yellow sack, thank you!" If a county requires stickers for trash collection, people can ask their landlord or neighbors where to purchase the stickers. Common mistakes to avoid Isassi said there are a few common mistakes people who live off base may make. For example, some may not put the correct items in the yellow bag or they may throw everything in the trash. Aerosol cans and light bulbs should not be thrown away, he said. They need to be placed in hazardous waste. Plastic bags from the Exchange are not recyclable, they are considered trash. What is the penalty for not recycling? Recycling is the law in Germany, so consider the consequences of throwing a recyclable item in the trash before tossing something away. People should not mix their recycling, said Arno Walerius, 52nd CES Environmental Element. The German government could fine the person responsible for contaminating an entire recycling collection, Isassi added. Pickup schedules and more information People who are new to Spangdahlem or have just moved off base can use these links to find region specific recycling information - http://www.bitburg-pruem.de/cms/entsorgungstermine, or http://www.bernkastel-wittlich.de/abfallratgeber.html. Isassi said for off base recycling military members can go to the housing office, the 52nd CES Environmental Element or the base recycling center to get brochures about off base recycling. For more information about recycling in Germany, call the environmental element at DSN 452- 7257 or 06565-61-7257.