Where does the garden waste go? This guide is dedicated to a common everyday concern that causes headaches for amateur gardeners. Explore the 5 best ways to properly dispose of green waste here.
How can you dispose of garden waste correctly?
To dispose of garden waste properly, you can use the organic waste bin, a green waste container, on-demand collection, your own compost heap or landfill disposal. However, dumping garden waste in the forest can result in hefty fines as it is harmful to the environment.
- Good methods for disposing of garden waste are: organic waste bin, green waste containers, collection on order, compost heap and landfill disposal with car.
- Disposing of garden waste in the forest harms the environment and is punished with a severe fine of up to 20,000 euros.
Dispose of garden waste – 5 great methods
Weeds can be disposed of on the compost or in the organic waste bin
Mountains of green waste, leaves and branches spoil the joy of hard-working hobby gardeners in their green kingdom. This doesn't have to be the case, because there are 5 tried and tested methods to choose from to easily dispose of annoying garden waste. The following table provides an overview:
| Method | Procedure | Advantage | Disadvantage | Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organic bin | throw in unpackaged | uncomplicated | small quantities only | free |
| Green waste container | order and have it picked up | dispose of large quantities | expensive | from 180 EUR (2 m³) |
| Pickup | Place order, have it picked up | environmentally friendly, simple | complex preparatory work | from 95 EUR (20 m³) |
| Compost heap | pile up, let rot | valuable natural fertilizer | long-winded, high-maintenance | free |
| Landfill disposal | Self-transport to the landfill | cheap, independent | Trailer required | from 10 EUR (car trailer) |
Are one or more of these methods a slam-dunk solution to your green waste worries? Then read on because there are useful tips & tricks on how to do it right.
Excursus
Disposing of garden waste in the forest – is that possible?
Many garden owners are in for a rude awakening when they dispose of garden waste in the forest. The perpetrators face a severe fine of up to 20,000 euros. Even dumping a bucket of plant residues into the forest results in a fine of up to 300 euros. The legislature makes no distinction whether environmental offenders dispose of garden waste in public forests or their own forests. Although leaves, brush and grass cuttings are organic material of natural origin, wild disposal of green waste causes significant environmental damage. Invasive, poisonous plants such as giant hogweed are spreading, wild boars and rats are settling and the ecological balance is tipping.
Dispose of garden waste in the organic waste bin
Smaller amounts of garden waste can easily be disposed of in the organic waste bin
Many cities and municipalities in Germany provide their citizens with brown or green organic waste bins. With a volume of up to 240 liters, these waste bins hold plenty of garden waste. Flower remains, leaves from a small hedge and grass clippings from the front garden find space in it alongside other organic waste. In some municipalities, the organic waste bin is mandatory for every household and is automatically placed on the doorstep, such as in Hamburg. In other municipalities, environmentally friendly garbage cans must be explicitly requested from the administration. There are usually no costs.
Dispose of garden waste with green waste containers
If the organic waste bin is bursting at the seams, a green waste container solves the disposal problem. For waste volumes of 2 cubic meters or more, it may be worthwhile to place the order with a regional waste disposal company. Please clarify in advance whether there is a parking space for the container near the garden. Contact the provider in good time because there is a lot of demand for green waste containers in spring and autumn and you won't go away empty-handed.
Have garden waste picked up on request
Are the high costs of a green waste container a thorn in your side? Then look for a specialist provider in your area who will collect the garden waste on your behalf. This makes expensive containers unnecessary when hobby gardeners dispose of garden waste in Berlin or Munich. The RETEC Group sets a good example and quickly collects the green waste with a truck and loading crane. This reduces costs significantly. Hobby gardeners who are close to nature appreciate that garden waste is disposed of professionally and then makes a valuable contribution to nature in the form of natural fertilizer or biogas.
The following video demonstrates how the disposal of garden waste by professionals can contribute to pest control:
Laubentsorgung: So kompostieren die Profis
Dispose of garden waste in the compost heap
Having your own compost heap is the most environmentally friendly way to dispose of garden waste. Properly applied, green waste from the garden is transformed into rich organic fertilizer for flowers, perennials, vegetables and shrubs. Regular ventilation provides oxygen to busy compost worms and microorganisms that process green waste into humus. Even a small niche in a partially shaded location is enough to create your own compost.
Landfill disposal of garden waste
Every municipality operates one or more recycling centers nearby. Anyone who drives up here with a car trailer full of garden waste will not be turned away. Thanks to customer-friendly opening times, working hobby gardeners can easily dispose of their green waste at this point, even on Saturdays. At the entrance, an employee will inspect the green waste, charge an average of 10 euros in fees and instruct you where you can dump the green waste on the site.
Tip
Clever balcony gardeners do not think about disposing of spent summer perennials from boxes and buckets as garden waste. Numerous exotic flower beauties are sensitive to frost, but can overwinter undamaged on the windowsill or in the cellar and repeat their summer flower festival next year.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as garden waste?
Tree cuttings are considered garden waste, but thick tree roots are not
The garden waste category includes: leaves, leaf cuttings, perennial cuttings, wood cuttings, lawn cuttings and weeds. Tree trunks, thick tree roots (stubs), painted wood, topsoil or contaminated soil are not garden waste.
How can you dispose of garden waste for free in Hamburg?
Under the patronage of Environment Senator Jens Kerstan, the city of Hamburg has developed an exemplary system for the free disposal of garden waste and other organic waste. Every household has a large organic waste bin. If there is not enough capacity, every resident receives a set of 30 organic bags free of charge.
We would like to dispose of a large amount of garden waste in Leipzig. Do you have a tip on how to do this?
The city of Leipzig will not let down any hobby gardener who is faced with a mountain of garden waste. The recycling centers of KELL Kommunalentsorgung are happy to accept green waste from private individuals in exchange for a citizen-friendly donation. You can purchase tokens at various points of sale for 50 cents per 100 liters of garden waste.
Tip
Months-long decomposition process is the biggest hurdle in disposing of mountains of garden waste in the compost. Compost accelerators solve the problem. When used correctly, rotting time is shortened from an annoying 12 months to a rapid 6 to 8 weeks. You can make compost accelerators yourself or buy them cheaply from specialist retailers.
