Four natural wood cubes are arranged side by side on a light-coloured wooden table. On their front faces are black symbols (from left to right): a tap with a drop of water, a glowing light bulb, a radiator and a piggy bank. In the out-of-focus background, an open notebook, a white coffee cup with a saucer and a black pen can be seen against a light blue wall.
ALL ABOUT HOME LIVING

TIPS & USEFUL INFORMATION.

As a member, you too can help keep our collection in good order, do your bit for the climate and much more. Find out how here.

A group of glowing light bulbs with question-mark filaments against a dark blue background. One bulb is sharply in focus in the foreground.
TIPS ON HOME LIVING

SAVING ENERGY IN EVERYDAY LIFE.

By using energy and water sensibly, you can reduce your own consumption and conserve resources. Often, a few simple steps are all it takes. Here you’ll find tips on heating, hot water and saving electricity.

A close-up of a white panel radiator against a light-coloured wall. A hand reaches from the right towards the thermostat knob, marked with the numbers 1 to 3, to adjust the radiator. The background is slightly out of focus.
FOR A HEALTHY INDOOR ENVIRONMENT

HEATING AND VENTILATING PROPERLY.

  • Set
    the room temperature appropriately. Around 20 degrees is usually comfortable in living areas. It can be a little cooler in the bedroom. However, don’t let rooms that are rarely used cool down completely.
  • Use
    the thermostat correctly. The thermostat lets you set the desired room temperature. Setting it higher won’t make the room warm up any faster.
  • Keep
    radiators clear Furniture, curtains or washing in front of the radiator hinder heat distribution. Therefore, keep a sufficient distance.
  • Ventilate
    briefly but thoroughly Open the windows fully for a few minutes several times a day. Windows left tilted open all the time will cool down rooms and walls. Turn the heating down whilst ventilating.
  • Keep
    doors closed Close the doors between rooms with different temperatures. This prevents warm, humid air from entering cooler areas.
A close-up of two hands rubbing each other thoroughly under a layer of white soapy lather, filmed above a white washbasin next to a chrome-plated tap.
USING WATER WISELY

SAVE HOT WATER.

  • Take shorter showers
    . If you take slightly shorter showers, you’ll save hot water and the energy needed to heat it.
  • Turn off
    the tap whilst soaping up, brushing your teeth or shaving – there’s no need for the water to run continuously.
  • Take a shower instead of a bath
    A shower generally uses less hot water than a full bath.
  • Check
    for a water-saving shower head A water-saving shower head can reduce water consumption without compromising on comfort whilst showering. Make sure the model is compatible with your hot water system.
  • Report
    dripping taps A dripping tap wastes water unnecessarily. If a tap in your flat is leaking, please let us know.
One hand is screwing a bright LED bulb into a socket in the ceiling, whilst the other hand is holding an old, clear bulb.
FOCUS ON ENERGY

SAVE ELECTRICITY.

  • Switch off the lights and use
    LEDs. Only switch on the lights where you need them. LEDs use less electricity than older light bulbs.
  • Switch
    appliances off completely Many appliances still use electricity even in standby mode. Switch off your TV, computer and other appliances completely. A power strip with a switch can help with this.
  • Fill
    the washing machine properly Where possible, only start the washing machine when it’s full. For normally soiled laundry, 30 or 40 degrees is often sufficient. Eco programmes take longer, but usually use less energy.
  • Set
    the fridge to the right temperature A temperature of around seven degrees is usually sufficient for the fridge. In the freezer compartment, minus 18 degrees is adequate. Let hot food cool down before putting it in.
  • Cook
    with a lid on A well-fitting lid keeps the heat in the pan. Also, make use of the residual heat from the hob and oven, and only heat the amount of water you need in the kettle.
A close-up of waste sorted for recycling in cardboard boxes. In the foreground are clear plastic bottles and plastic packaging, alongside glass bottles with colourful lids and empty metal tins.
USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT LIVING

SORT YOUR RUBBISH PROPERLY.

What goes in which bin? Sorting waste correctly keeps our waste collection points clean and helps to avoid additional disposal costs. Here you can find out where to put glass, paper, packaging, organic waste and other types of waste.

Two large yellow plastic waste bins on wheels are standing side by side on a pavement in front of a building. The bin on the left has a round lid that is wide open; the one on the right is closed.
PACKAGING, PLASTIC AND METAL

THROW IT IN THE YELLOW RECYCLING BIN.

In Hamburg, plastic, metal and composite packaging should be placed in the yellow recycling bin or the yellow recycling bag. This also applies to smaller household items that consist of at least half plastic or metal.

 

The following items belong in there:

  • Yoghurt pots, plastic trays and cling film
  • Tin cans and non-deposit drinks cans
  • Aluminium foil and aluminium trays
  • Milk and juice cartons
  • Tubes and bottles of washing-up liquid and detergent

  • Smaller plastic or metal items, such as clothes hangers, pots or cleaning buckets

     

The packaging must be empty. There is no need to rinse it out. Separate different materials from one another: please remove the lid completely from the yoghurt pot and dispose of both parts separately.

Several large waste bins for waste paper are lined up outside. The bins have dark grey to blue bodies and round lids that are blue all over. In the background are trees and a light-coloured, multi-storey residential building.
PAPER AND CARDBOARD

PUT IT IN THE BLUE BIN.

Newspapers, cardboard boxes and other clean paper products belong in the blue paper bin. Please flatten or break up large cardboard boxes beforehand. This leaves more space in the bin.

 

The following items belong in it:

  • Newspapers, magazines and leaflets
  • Letters and envelopes
  • Notebooks, books and catalogues
  • Writing paper and wrapping paper
  • Paper bags
  • Cardboard and boxes

  • Clean paper napkins

     

The following items do not belong here:

Used tissues, kitchen roll, wallpaper, photo paper and stickers go in the general waste. Milk and juice cartons belong in the yellow recycling bin in Hamburg.

A large green plastic rubbish bin stands on a paved pavement directly in front of a grey house wall. The sliding lid of the bin is open a little way at the back.
GREEN BIN

ORGANIC WASTE.

Kitchen and garden waste should be placed in the organic waste bin:

  • Fruit and vegetable scraps
  • Bread and bread rolls
  • Food scraps and dairy products
  • Eggshells
  • Coffee filters and tea bags
  • Flowers and other plant waste

 

Collect organic waste in a paper bag or a bag specifically designed for this purpose.

Plastic must not be put in the organic waste bin. This also applies to bioplastics and so-called compostable plastic bags. General waste, bones and fish bones must not be put in either.

Two large, closed rubbish skips in dark grey stand side by side on a paved area. Behind them, a wooden fence screens the skips from view. Trees and shrubs can be seen in the background.
BLACK BIN

GENERAL WASTE.

The black bin is for waste that cannot be disposed of in the other bins:

  • nappies and other hygiene products
  • used tissues and kitchen roll
  • Rubbish and vacuum cleaner bags
  • Bones and fish bones
  • Cold ashes and cigarette ends
  • Soiled pizza boxes
  • Broken drinking glasses and mirror glass
  • Small amounts of ceramics and porcelain
  • Medicines in their original packaging

  • wallpaper and photographic paper

     

Batteries, rechargeable batteries, electrical appliances, paints and varnishes must not be disposed of in general waste.

A close-up of a hand throwing a transparent glass bottle with a black screw cap into the circular opening of a grey glass recycling bin. Green leaves can be seen in the background.
GLASS RECYCLING BINS

SORT GLASS BY COLOUR.

You can find glass recycling bins at public collection points in Hamburg. The following items should be placed

in them:

  • Glass bottles without a deposit
  • Jam and preserve jars
  • Other glass packaging

  • Glass cosmetics containers

     

White, brown and green glass should be placed in the appropriate containers. Blue, red, yellow and black glass are classified as green glass.

Drinking glasses, ceramics, porcelain and mirror glass go in the general waste. You can dispose of lids and screw caps in the yellow recycling bin in Hamburg.

Please only use the glass recycling bins on weekdays between 7 am and 8 pm.

Numerous old large electrical appliances – including white refrigerators, washing machines and cookers – are standing on the paved area of a recycling centre. In the background are large, green and rusty metal containers.
RECYCLING CENTRE

BULKY WASTE AND SPECIAL CASES.

At the recycling centres run by Stadtreinigung Hamburg, you can drop off waste that does not belong in the bins at the waste collection point.

 

This includes:

  • Furniture, mattresses and other bulky waste
  • Large electrical appliances
  • Smartphones, tablets and devices with built-in batteries
  • Batteries, rechargeable batteries and light bulbs
  • Paints, varnishes and solvents
  • Renovation and construction waste
  • Wood, cables, plugs, corks and CDs

  • Large quantities of paper, cardboard and garden waste

     

Please remove batteries and removable rechargeable batteries from electrical appliances before disposal.

Furniture, electrical appliances and other waste must not be left next to the bins. For bulky waste, you can use a recycling centre or the (chargeable) collection service provided by Stadtreinigung Hamburg.