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Those who separate their organic waste correctly make an important contribution to environmental protection. Organic waste can be used to produce environmentally friendly natural gas or compost, for example.

As a general rule, kitchen and garden waste that is of plant or animal origin and can be biodegraded belongs in the organic waste bin. However, animal faeces and dead pets are excluded.

  • The fees for the organic waste bin are included in the general waste disposal fees.
  • The organic waste bins have a grey/black body and a brown lid.
  • The organic waste bin is placed on every property connected to the waste disposal service of the City of Frankfurt am Main.
  • In principle, the use of the organic waste bin is mandatory.
  • Private households can be exempted from this obligation upon written request if it can be plausibly demonstrated that all organic waste is composted on the property. An undeveloped, unsealed area of 25 m² on the property is required for this.
  • Self-composting or exemption from the connection and usage obligation must be applied for in writing at the Environmental Office of the City of Frankfurt am Main.
  • Cooked food waste does not belong in the compost but can be disposed of via the organic waste bin.
  • The organic waste bin is emptied every 14 days.
  • The organic waste bin is available in sizes 120 and 240 l.
  • The size of the organic waste bin depends on the size of the residual waste bin ( Externer Link zu Calculation of recyclable ratio).
  • Tenants cannot order the organic waste bin themselves. They must contact the landlord or property manager.
  • Form to change waste bins
Biotonne der FES Frankfurt mit braunem Deckel und Piktogrammaufkleber „Bioabfall“

What is allowed inside?

All biodegradable waste from private households.

  • Fruit and vegetable waste (including citrus, banana and nut peels),
  • Raw and cooked food leftovers,
  • Coffee and tea grounds, filter bags, eggshells,
  • Potting soil,
  • Green waste and leaves.

What is not allowed inside?

  • Kitchen and food waste from commercial sources,
  • Plastic bags, packaging made of plastic and metal,
  • Dust, sand and vacuum cleaner bags,
  • Cigarette butts,
  • Diapers and other used hygiene products,
  • Pet litter,
  • Liquids, e.g., soups, sauces, drinks,
  • Compostable plastics (e.g., made from cornstarch).

If the organic waste bin contains too much residual waste, the organic waste cannot be processed further. The bins will then not be emptied. A special collection as residual waste must be requested in writing ( Request for special collection).

Wet organic waste

Moist organic waste such as salad, fruit and vegetable scraps can be wrapped in newspaper or kitchen paper. Paper bags are available specifically for organic waste collection to protect the bin from contamination and odours.

Biodegradable plastic bags are not permitted for organic waste collection in Frankfurt am Main!

These bags cannot be processed in a biowaste treatment plant because the retention time is too short. They have to be laboriously sorted out as impurities. In general, no compostable plastic products may be disposed of in the biowaste bin.

Disposing of leaves correctly

There is a particularly large amount of leaves in autumn. While the city cleaning service is responsible for leaves on public paths, smaller quantities can be disposed of in the organic waste bin.

Dispose of larger quantities of green waste

Green waste such as branches and grass clippings may be disposed of up to a quantity of 3 m³ at our drop-off points and trunk service.

Additionally, every spring and autumn we offer our curbside green waste collection.

Composting in your own garden

If you have a garden, you can compost a lot of organic waste yourself. This produces fresh humus in a completely natural way. But be careful: not all organic waste is suitable for this. The Federal Environment Agency's Externer Link zu "Compost Guide" provides a good overview of what you can compost – and what you can't.

Volume Dimensions [L / W / H mm] Permissible total weight
120 l 500 / 540 / 80 50 kg
240 l 585 / 725 / 1,140 100 kg

More about organic waste bins

The correct way to use the organic waste bin

What happens to our organic waste?

No plastic in the organic waste bin