From 2026: Goodbye to the yellow bag – new garbage rules for Wiesbaden & Co.

From 2026: Goodbye to the yellow bag – new garbage rules for Wiesbaden & Co.

From January 1, 2026, there will be a lot of changes in Germany's waste management. The new regulation primarily affects the disposal of packaging waste and electronic waste. Instead of continuing to use the yellow bag, citizens in certain cities must switch to the yellow bin. The yellow bag will be abolished in parts of Wiesbaden, Bochum, Dessau-Roßlau and Lüneburg Mercury reported. For many households this means a change in habits, but they have already been informed in writing about the changes.

Another aspect that will be taken into account in the new waste management system is the collection rhythm for garbage. In some cases, emptying will now occur every 14 days instead of weekly. But don't worry: the change will not entail any additional costs for citizens. In addition to the changes regarding waste disposal, there will also be uniform labeling for collection and return points for waste electrical equipment, which will be marked by a new symbol with a green plug and two surrounding arrows. Retailers and online shops must affix this label by June 30, 2026 at the latest.

Packaging waste and recycling

If you focus on the yellow bin, it becomes clear that various packaging such as plastic, tinplate, aluminum and composite packaging, including beverage cartons, can be disposed of in it. In this context, the law has changed since 2009: The Green Dot is no longer decisive, all manufacturers must have joined a dual system. It is important that empty packaging does not need to be rinsed thoroughly - it is sufficient if it is spoon clean. Heavily soiled packaging, on the other hand, belongs in the residual waste Consumer advice center emphasized.

A future-oriented trend can also be seen in the disposal of electronic waste. From 2026, used e-cigarettes can be returned to points of sale, with retailers obliged to accept them free of charge, regardless of whether new devices are purchased. In addition, old electrical devices are divided into three categories to minimize the risk of fire and explosion, and only trained personnel are allowed to sort them at municipal collection points.

The role of municipalities

Innovations such as garbage cans with chip technology are being introduced in cities such as Bochum, Heilbronn and Waiblingen. With the aim of further optimizing the separate collection of waste materials, the new packaging law, which has been in force since January 1, 2019, deals in particular with the recycling of plastics. Data on plastic waste and its disposal are summarized in detail in the annual waste balance for Germany, which is published by, among others Destatis is provided.

In waste management, the challenge remains to keep track of the multitude of collection systems and the different disposal methods in individual municipalities. In the future, the yellow bin may be introduced across the board in other cities, such as in Munich from January 2027 and in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district. If you have unused yellow bags left over, you can continue to use them privately, but you should ensure that they are disposed of correctly.