Munich and Regensburg district prepare to switch to yellow bins

Munich and the district of Regensburg will introduce yellow bins for packaging waste from January 1, 2027, replacing existing collection systems. BR reports that bins are already being delivered in both places.

In Munich, each collection point will automatically receive a bin from the responsible waste company. Two private contractors, working for Germany’s dual recycling systems, will handle delivery, collection and emptying. In the Regensburg district, bins are also being distributed automatically and in stages.

The bins are for empty sales packaging made of plastic, metal or composite materials, such as cans and drink cartons with an inner plastic layer. Paper, cardboard and glass packaging do not belong in them. The yellow bin is for packaging, not plastic waste in general.

Until the end of 2026, Munich residents should continue using the existing containers at recycling points. The new bins should not be filled before January, and they will not be emptied before then. In the Regensburg district, residents should start filling their bins no earlier than late December; collections will begin in January.

The switch itself will not increase municipal waste fees in either place. The dual systems responsible for collecting and recycling sales packaging are funded through fees paid by manufacturers, which are included in the price of packaged products. The Regensburg district says no increase in its waste fees is planned for January 1, 2027.

Munich’s city council approved a pilot project in late 2022 to compare collection systems for sales packaging. The trial included the yellow bin, the yellow bag and a recycling bin, alongside the existing depot-container system. The project was intended to provide a basis for deciding how packaging should be collected.