How to recycle and dispose of garbage in Luxembourg
In this article we will talk about how to sort and recycle waste in the right way.
Recycling in Luxembourg is not only important for environmental protection but also provides opportunities for innovation. Many people and organizations are finding new and exciting ways to turn waste into useful products. From upcycling old furniture to creating art from recycled materials, recycling in Luxembourg is a fun and rewarding way to contribute to a more sustainable future and society in general.
Sorting the garbage is an essential key action related to recycling. At first, it seems rather complicated, but the whole system is simple, once you get a grip on how to proceed and identify trash and where to put it. We are here to help you figure out, where and which trash can be thrown away in Luxembourg.
Whether you are a newcomer or have been a resident for a long time, it's always a great idea to start recycling in Luxembourg or to go on to the next level of ecological lifestyle with our advice.
Garbage recycling in Luxembourg
If you live in the City, you will find all the important information about recycling on the Ville de Luxembourg website. For municipalities, check the website of local communes or ask for information at the local town hall.
The City of Luxembourg’s Service d’hygiène is in charge of the mixed residual waste and recyclable materials removal in the various districts of the city, as well as cleaning streets and certain public places. They have created special Waste Guidelines, that describe the process of garbage disposal in Luxembourg City. You can use it as a memo. The Guide is available in English.
Waste Act in Luxembourg
The Waste Act is a law, implemented in 2022 in the Grand Duchy, that aims to reduce waste and increase recycling rates in the country. The law includes a range of measures that will be gradually implemented until the year 2025. It is part of a bigger initiative by the European Commission in order to maintain responsible packaging and waste management in Europe.
The Act includes various domestic changes, that apply to ordinary life, like reformations of the recycling parks and no-flyers policy in mailboxes until explicitly asked for. But most importantly, there have been radical changes in the work of supermarkets and shops' packaging.
From now on, the supermarkets will no longer distribute free plastic bags, and customers are asked to bring their reusable bags or purchase eco-responsible options, provided by the stores. You can find paper bags, recycled plastic bags, and fabric nets.
Plastic-wrapped fruits and vegetables in small quantities (under 1,5 kilos) will also no longer be available. Instead, fruits must be collected into eco-friendly reusable nets, or recyclable packaging, which will still cost you some additional money in the store. The best option is to get reusable bags on your own and take them with you for shopping.
Read more about the best places to buy food and organic markets in the Grand Duchy in our articles:
Where to buy organic products: markets, stores, farmer shops
The special rules apply to businesses that interact with packaging in any form. Companies are responsible for the packaging waste, whether they purchased or sold it with the product. They are supposed to recycle at least 60% of the packaging waste. You can find more information on the Guichet website.
Valorlux blue bags
Valorlux is a non-profit organization in Luxembourg that aims to promote sustainable waste management practices and increase recycling rates in the country. The organization was founded in 1995 and recognized the need for a coordinated effort to improve waste management and recycling in Luxembourg.
Today, Valorlux is a key player in the sector, working with businesses, individuals, and municipalities to develop and implement effective waste reduction strategies. The organization provides a range of services and resources, including educational programs, recycling collection points, and the Valorlux blue bag system for household recycling.
You must have noticed this blue and sometimes green bags around the country. Valorlux blue bags are special recycling bags that are used in Luxembourg to collect and recycle certain types of household waste. These bags are provided by the Valorlux organization and are available for purchase at most supermarkets, grocery stores, and convenience stores throughout Luxembourg. They can also be ordered on the website of company (you will need to create an account), or collected at the commune center.
The blue bags are specifically designed to collect certain types of recyclable waste, such as plastic, metal, and tetra pack. To use a Valorlux blue bag, simply fill it with the appropriate type of recyclable waste and tie it securely before placing it next to your bins once every two weeks. You can check the Valorlux collection calendar on their website for your commune.
There are multiple types of garbage you can put into the blue bag in Luxembourg:
- Plastic bottles and containers, including water bottles, soft drink bottles, and detergent bottles;
- Metal packaging, including food and drink cans, candle cups, foils, and pet food trays (clean);
- Tetra pack beverage cartons, including milk cartons, juice cartons, and soup cartons;
- Plastic bags and films, including plastic wrap (must be clean and dry), caps, and lids;
- Plastic pots and trays, including yogurt cups, containers, plastic flower pots, and punnets.
It's important to note that the Valorlux blue bag should not be used for other types of waste, such as glass, paper, or textiles, that go into colored bins. Also, there are a lot of items, that are not allowed into Valorlux bags, such as black plastic, foam trays, multi-layer packaging (like pouches of cat food), and medication packaging.
Valorlux has a special memo for the right disposal of recyclable waste into the blue bag. It is a one-page reminder, that you can put on your fridge or the community posting board, and sort the garbage right.
Recycle bins and their colors
First of all, environmental responsibility in Luxembourg is promoted, among other things, economically. You can skip sorting your garbage, but this will usually cost you a lot more. For example, the removal of unsorted waste (also called mixed residual waste) in the private sector is covered by a special payment scheme: residents pay for each container or for each kilogram of waste in the container.
According to approximate calculations of Ville de Luxembourg, disposing of one usual black bin for residual waste of 240 liters will cost 600 euros per year. While recycling by sorting the garbage, which includes 60 liters of mixed waste, alongside 120 liters bins for paper and glass, as well as 40 liters of organic waste, will cost 220 euros per year in fees.
These calculations can be made with help of the service for optimizing sorting expenses calculator at the Ville de Luxembourg website.
All trash containers in Luxembourg have their own color scheme, to make it easier to sort the garbage. You can orient the color to figure out what can be thrown away in the container. If you are unsure about a specific object that you want to throw away, use the A-Z Recycling help from the official resource.
Bins, which you can find everywhere, that are colored blue, are used to recycle paper and cardboard in Luxembourg.
This includes the most common paper items in everyone's houses:
- newspapers and magazines,
- papers and notebooks,
- cardboard egg containers,
- cardboard boxes and packaging,
- rolls from toilet paper and kitchen towels.
Make sure, that it is not laminated — i.e. does not contain a thin plastic layer, or is greasy. Also, it is recommended to not tear up the cardboard, but rather bend it a couple of times, if it doesn't fit the container.
Among things, that are not allowed to be put into the blue container in Luxembourg are paper napkins and towels (not the roll itself), milk and juice cardboard containers, paper plates, wallpaper, and carbon paper.
Containers for trash that are colored green in Luxembourg, are used to collect glass, but not all glass. Pay attention to the fact, that on the outskirts of Luxembourg City, i.e. in different cantons, the color of the container can be changed to yellow.
So, in the capital, you use a green bin to throw away the empty bottle from a drink, and in the north, you will throw your empty jars aiming for yellow.
So what garbage can you put into the green container? The list includes clean and empty:
- Glass bottles,
- Glass jars.
However, you can not use this bin to dispose of mirrors, shattered glass, porcelain, wire glass, window panes, lightbulbs, ceramics, screens and etc. Also, there is an option for returnable bottles, where you can give them back to the place you bought them (for example, farmer's market), and be rewarded with a cashback or discount.
This type of container is used to dispose of organic waste, it is colored brown and can be found all over the Grand Duchy. The list of things you can dispose of with this bin is quite long, and includes a lot of food products and organics:
- food leftovers,
- kitchen waste and peelings,
- fruits, vegetables, meat, fish,
- coffee grounds and tea bags,
- stale bread,
- light garden waste: flowers, fruits, grass, leaves, and plants without soil.
Here is the list of things you can not put in the brown bin, though they may seem organic: oils and fats, ash and coal, paper towels and napkins, sanitary products, cigarette buns, woody garden waste, and cat litter.
Do not put biodegradable plastic into compost and brown bins, this type of packaging is not supposed to be considered organic and requires special recycling. However, biodegradable paper bags are good to go!
These containers can be in many shades of grey, or even black, but they all are used for mixed residual waste. To put it simply, everything that you could not dispose of with Valorlux bags or three previous colors of bins, goes here.
It includes
- non-recyclable waste,
- incinerable waste.
Make sure to not put any toxic waste in the black containers, though it may seem like the place, most of the time you will need to bring your lightbulbs, batteries, medication, aerosol cans, and cosmetic products to the Recycling Centers. The more you recycle — the less you will pay in fees for your garbage disposal.
How to order a bin for your trash
If you live in Luxembourg City, most of the time the property owners and managing companies in multi-flat buildings will order waste bins for you. To do so, one must submit a written request using the Delivery/removal of bins with/without lock form on the official website. The request should specify the type and number of bins required or to be removed. There are various options of bins available, for different volumes, with locks or without, and, of course, different colors.
The annual charge for bin services will be billed to the person who submits the request. The billing process is handled by the City of Luxembourg's Service Impositions (Municipal Tax Department).
If you live outside of Luxembourg City, the owner or managing company will also take care of the bins. In case you have your own property, to order a bin or remove it, you need to contact the municipality. For example, in Esch-sur-Alzette, you need to contact the Biergeramt. Then you will also need to fill out the form and you will receive your bins.
How garbage is picked up in Luxembourg
The rules are pretty simple. If you want your bins to be emptied, you need to take a few simple steps and keep in mind the schedule of the pickup. For a more detailed schedule, take a look at the garbage collection calendar for Luxembourg City on the official website by the street address.
In order to ensure efficient waste collection, follow these guidelines:
- Place your bins on the pavement in front of your house. This must be done before 6:00 a.m. on the day of collection. Collections are typically made between 6:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
- Bring your bins back in as soon as the waste collection vehicle has passed. Unless you have arranged for your bins to be cleaned. Cleaning services must be requested in advance.
- Avoid obstructing the pavement and allow space for pedestrians to pass.
- Make sure to close the lids of your bins properly to ensure they can be emptied without any issues.
- Note that bins containing unauthorized items will not be emptied.
In apartment buildings, garbage collection is usually included in the monthly costs (les charges). The amount of the charges depends on the size of the apartment, whether there is a garden near the house, and other factors established by law. Garbage cans may be located in or near the basement of the house. The house manager will put them outside to be picked up by the garbage truck.
The municipality will usually provide you with a schedule for picking up different types of waste. You may request it, and also receive a wall calendar that indicates when and for what type of waste the garbage men will come. In addition, all information about garbage collection is published on the municipality's website, and you can contact your townhall, in case you need further assistance. Containers for glass, paper, mixed waste, and PMC-Valorlux bags can be ordered from your local town hall as well.
Some garbage and bins are picked up regularly — weekly or twice a week, but some types of waste — are only by appointment or in Recycling centers. The frequency can vary depending on the specific location and type of property. In general, most households have their garbage collected once a week. However, some areas may have twice-weekly collections or may use alternative collection schedules based on specific waste types, such as organic waste or recycling.
It's important to check with your local waste management authority or municipality to determine the exact schedule for garbage collection in your area.
They will be able to provide you with more detailed information and answer any specific questions you may have about waste collection and disposal in Luxembourg. We will review the typical schedule for the garbage pick up in Luxembourg.
Special waste and seasonal garbage disposal
Weekly
Every two weeks
By request
Non-standard bulky garbage
Garbage that is either hazardous, difficult to dispose of, or can be used for charity is taken out on a special schedule and can involve both municipalities and the public. They are either collected in special places, or on a unique timetable.
Most of this trash can be recycled if collected and separated in the right way.
Clothing, shoes and textiles
Construction-related debris
Batteries and accumulators
Christmas trees
Toxic waste
Do not throw away radioactive waste and explosives this way! You should take this garbage to the Luxembourg Recycling Centers or to the SuperDrecksK¨scht fir Biirger mobile collection points.
Toxic waste must not be thrown in the trash or down the drain. Neither should you put this kind of waste in or near bins with batteries, glass, or paper. This is not safe.
Cleaning up after pets
When walking your pet, local regulations recommend that you clean up after your beloved animal. For this purpose, there are special bags, which are held in yellow boxes with a picture of a dog. Crates are installed in every public place - at the park entrances, on the sidewalks along the streets, and near the tourist offices. You can also request the bags from the recycling center, this is covered by your taxes on owning the pet.
When you collected the waste in the bag, you can throw it away into the black bin. The droppings of smaller pets, who live at home, can be thrown away into brown bins as organic waste.
Recycle centers in Luxembourg
Recycling centers are designed to help you separate your waste into different categories, making it easier for the materials to be disposed of correctly. Typically, the recycling centers will have separate containers for various types of waste, such as paper, cardboard, plastics, metals, glass, organic waste, and even more.
In addition to curbside collecting of bins, which are traditional, you can bring special types of waste into the recycle centers, that can not be put into containers and Valorlux bags. The recycling centers in the Grand Duchy are run by various organizations. There are over 20 recycling centers located throughout the country, which are open to both residents and businesses.
Recycling Center of Luxembourg City and Strassen
It provides its services free of charge but is only available to residents of these municipalities: to access the center you will need a special card. Luxembourg City recycling center is managed by the Service Hygiène, and is accessible for local businesses too — on Tuesdays and Fridays, while Mondays and Saturdays are reserved for private individuals.
It is important to note that only clean and sorted in advance waste can be accepted in this recycling center in Luxembourg. Materials for recycling must also be separated according to waste type, while hazardous substances must be brought for disposal to a different center — to the
Small quantities of bulky waste can be accepted for recycling. However, it is important to keep in mind that parking is limited and, therefore, transportation of waste by trailer, van, lorry, tow truck, or similar vehicles is only allowed if parking spaces are available.
Address: Rue du Stade, 48 Route d'Arlon, L-2547 Luxembourg.
Phone: +352 47 96 36 40
The Center operates from Monday to Friday, with opening hours from 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The last entry is at 19:15 and 17:45, respectively.
Recycling centers of SIDEC
SIDEC (Syndicat Intercommunal pour la Gestion de Dechetes) is a public organization created in 1972 by several municipalities in Luxembourg to manage the collection and recycling of packaging waste. Its main goal is to ensure that packaging waste is properly collected, sorted, and recycled in a sustainable way, in accordance with European and national regulations.
The organization provides collection bins and recycling centers throughout the country and works closely with local authorities, waste management companies, and other stakeholders to promote recycling and reduce waste. It is also responsible for organizing awareness campaigns and educational programs.
They have four recycling parks, that are located in Diekirch-Fridhaff, Mersch, Lentzweiler, and Redange. Since 2020, there is a fee system, that covers the work of these centers. You can find pricing in the official brochure on the SIDEC website.
The center facilitates reusable objects, materials, problematic waste, or non-recyclable waste to be recycled or processed in an environmentally friendly way. More than 30 different waste types from households can be disposed of here.
Recycling center in Fridhaff (Diekirch)
Recycling center in Mersch
Recycling center in Redange
Recycling center in Lentzweiler
These recycling centers work on the same schedule. They are open Tuesday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and are closed on Sunday and Monday.
Recycling center in Schifflange
Also known as SIVEC, the recycling park in the commune of Schifflage is available for the companies and residents of this municipality. They collect various waste, including refrigerating and electronic appliances, demolition waste, bulky waste, scrap metal, aluminum foil, cork, plastic materials, rubber parts, used tires, hollow glass, old wood and textiles, and others.
This center does not accept hazardous, explosive waste and domestic trash, that can be disposed of with ordinary bins. To access the recycling in this facility, you will need a SIVEC card (for residents) and also you will have to make an appointment. You can do it online with their official website form.
Address: 2-4 um Däich, 3841 Schifflange
Phone: (+352) 54 98 98
The recycling center is open from 8 a.m. to 3:50 p.m. every day, except Monday and Sunday. On Wednesdays, the center is open until 5:50 p.m.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is recycling mandatory in Luxembourg
How to recycle in Luxembourg in brief
Where to throw away a Christmas tree
Where can I throw away old furniture
How can I order a new garbage bin in Luxembourg
Source: www.vdl.lu, sivec.lu, www.sidec.lu, www.vdl.lu, sdk.lu
We took photos from these sources: Pawel Czerwinski for Unsplash, Luxtoday collage (Images from Valorlux website) Luxtoday collage (Images from Valorlux website) Ville de Luxembourg website Google Maps, Suneela Isaak, Recycling center of Ville de Luxembourg
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