In holiday accommodation the familiar bins are often missing, and the collection point is in the basement or at the car park. With four small containers, waste sorting remains clear. The instructions from the accommodation and the local waste advisory service always take precedence, because rules for organic waste and collection points can vary regionally.
Four collection points are enough to start
- Paper and cardboard: clean newspapers, boxes and paper packaging.
- Lightweight and metal packaging: in Austria, empty plastic and metal packaging go together into the yellow bin or the yellow sack.
- Glass packaging: Collect clear glass and colored glass separately.
- Residual waste: Hygiene items, heavily soiled materials and other non-recyclable waste.
For organic waste, use only the designated container and follow the local list. What is permitted in one municipality may differ elsewhere.
Packaging must be empty, but not spotless
Yogurt cups, cans and bottles should be completely emptied. Rinsing is usually not necessary for recycling. If a package can easily be separated into different materials, such as a cardboard sleeve and a plastic cup, the parts should be collected separately.
Glass is not all the same
Glass containers are for glass packaging like empty bottles and jam jars. Drinking glasses, ceramics, mirrors and window glass don't belong there. Clear packaging glass goes to the clear-glass container; colored glass goes to the colored-glass container.
Save space in the holiday apartment
- Flatten cardboard boxes.
- Squeeze plastic bottles.
- Keep returnable bottles and deposit containers separate.
- Use only small residual waste bags and take them out regularly.
- Don't leave organic waste in the kitchen for long in hot weather.
Keep batteries and hazardous materials separate
Batteries, rechargeable batteries, electrical appliances, medicines and chemical residues should not go in residual waste. Store them safely and out of reach of children and use an appropriate take-back or collection point.
Check once before departure
Empty all bins, take glass to the collection point and don't leave any packaging in the fridge. If in doubt, use the postcode search of the regional waste advisory service. That way the last evening of your vacation won't turn into a hectic sorting session.
Caution
Sources and further information
Article image: AI-generated symbolic image.
