Recycling Bottles in Germany [Understanding Pfand]

[@davidsmith3263]

Last time I was in Frankfurt Airport I saw there was a “Pfand machine” accepting plastic bottles but you donate the Pfand to charity. It gave me the option of three long German words to choose from. I hope I picked the right one as I understood not a lot.

[@Yosh001]

Fun Fact - even after German airport security check points (where you aren't allowed to have any liquids with you), the Pfand-System is still in place. So if you are flying abroad from Germany, buying a soda or even bottled water, reserve some space for the empty bottles in your luggage so you can redeem the Pfand once you are back in Germany.

[@th60of]

Certainly helpful, but maybe slightly misleading: the difference is not between plastic and glass, but between reusable and recyclable (or, in all honesty, non-reusable). There are non-reusable glass bottles, and there are reusable plastic bottles as well. Non-reusable containers always have a 0.25 € deposit, and you can return them wherever such containers are sold. Reusable bottles are 0.15 € or 0.08 €, depending on their type. You can return them where you bought them, obviously, but also, most of the time, at any other drinks store if the crate isn't branded and the bottles are standard-shaped. Oh, and there is also a deposit on the crate, 1.50 €. Don't worry about half-empty crates, they will be accepted as well.

[@febswelt]

I am moving to Germany soon and I am binge watching your channel also binge reading your website. Thank you so much Jen & Yvonne for the amazing contents ❤

[@Kagekozo]

I have yet to see one when I visited Germany. I'll make an effort to look for it next time. I was aware of the deposit concept, but didn't know what to look for. What I've done in the past is that I leave the empty plastic/glass bottles in the hotel room. That way cleaning staff can claim the deposit, if there are any. Thank you for the video, made it clear what to look for next time I visit. Danke!

[@joannunemaker6332]

This is very helpful. Not everyone knows about the pfand in Germany. I didn't learn that until I took a few trips to Germany. I enjoyed this video. 😊❤

[@colinmackenzie4363]

Müller Butter Milch (plastic bottle) and Aldi Trink Joghurt (plastic bottle) and similar started using Pfand since the beginning of 2024 (I think). They both have the recycle symbol ( as in video @ 1:12 ) . If in doubt, check your Kassenbon when you buy such items, to see if you were charged Pfand. Have a nice day. 😎

[@AsterFoz]

My Schwiegervater worked in some 'drinks factory' in Poland where they produced also bottles for export. He could take home bottles that were fully filled or for any other reason rejected... He was really annoyed when his son and my Schwager visited us and after coming back home told the father (not working in this factory anymore), that all these bottles that they have thrown away he could take to Germany and sell because they all had pfand symbol.

[@kate1999-a]

thank you guys😍 love you❤️

[@pepelsbey]

I threw away so many mehrweg bottles 😮 I’m usually only looking for the special sign. Thanks for the tip!

[@pourdamghani]

Thanks a lot for the detailed explanation

[@elliek5350]

...And how much Fun you have while explaining and doing the Pfand ;)

[@simplegermany]

Right?! 😅

[@andreaherale9437]

Dear Yvonne, you don't have to pronounce the word "Mehrwegggg" but "Mehrweeeeg" 😊 "More ways" versus "One way" = Mehrweg vs. Einweg. And furthermore it's not "Kroooombacher" but "Krommmmbacher". My home town is near Kreuztal-Krombach where the beer comes from. Thanks for the interesting topic! You both are amazing!

[@AsterFoz]

Are you a German?

[@Emre-zi6xz]

That is super! thanks alot.

[@ivanhoe96]

Love your channel. Thank you so much for your activity! It helped me a lot in my first months and I’m still very very grateful to you, you’re the best ❤️❤️❤️

[@realtho149]

thanks very informative

[@shafiqmukhlis9925]

Nice content as always! Wonder if you can do a video about Firmenwagen in germany?

[@jboygeen5720]

@Simply Germany Today I found 4 Pfand cans in a bush in Gronau Westphalia 😅 but there were also 4 glass bottles next to them, I had no idea that I could get an extra 32 cents 🤣🤣 actually not worth to picking it up

[@Angelos_92]

I grew up in germany then i moved away at 15 yo and im returning this month again for work. (Im 30 now) You think im gonna get used to germany fast ? I remember the language pretty well. Feeling a bit nervous but i look forward to it!

[@simplegermany]

Of course you will 😊 if you keep an open mind and want to feel back at home that is 😊 Exciting times! We hope your move will go smoothly!

[@DanielHerrera-vz8vv]

Great video! I hope in the future, there's a universal symbol for mehrwegpfandflaschen. Would make it a little less confusing and not have to read through the whole label.

[@jkb2016]

Not mentioned in the video is how common it is for Pfandautomaten to malfunction. This is super stressfull when it happens to you and there's a huge queue building up behind. You'll have to inform the staff then, if you can find any.

[@simplegermany]

Oh, how often has it happened to you? We have never experienced it 🤷

[@jkb2016]

@@simplegermany I didn't count. Did happen to me, did happen to people in front of me. My nearest Marktkauf has 4 of them; lately two permanently offline and one out of order. Yay.

[@harshadkapote8644]

Have you done any video on investments in Germany? If not please do so... If already done please share links 😊

[@simplegermany]

We have this video on online brokers: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3nRiGain8prhNk and this guide on investing in Germany: www.simplegermany.com/how-to-invest-money-in-germany/

[@AsterFoz]

Not only older or poor people collect bottles on the streets. I always pick them up. Not because I have no other income. I would take a coin so why not a bottle? It's the same thing (only bottles are bigger).

[@turjo119]

Yvonne's sister and brother-in-law preferring Kölsch sounds like scarilege considering Jen and her have lived in Düsseldorf for well over a decade 😆

[@AndreaBorgia]

Thankfully, Kölsch does not travel outside its own hometown ;)

[@SouvikBiswas249]

Thanks! This helps a lot. Question : Does the machine at rewe, aldi etc. accept glass bottle which are marked as reusable? If it does not accept, what should I do?

[@simplegermany]

That depends… Aldi will most likely not as they don’t sell glass bottles. Are we will if they sell the drink you try to return. As we say in the video, it’s best and easiest to always return your Pfand bottles to the place you bought them at.

[@UrsAzr8298]

You can return ANY plastic bottle with this sign to ANY store that have such automat to crush bottles. .

[@simplegermany]

Correct :)

[@KONSTOS]

Hi Jen , I'm applying opportunity card visa from India and I am wondering , what is the category that I have to choose for data science to see if regulated or not , also , do I have the take that information when I go for visa interview . please clarify. thank

[@simplegermany]

You can watch this video on degree recognition and follow our steps to find out about your data science degree: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHiQhYqlrJl8nck you of course need to add the documents to your visa application 😊

[@JustAnotherMe]

Can you also share how the recycling in Germany works. For example, The yellow one has tins, plastics, milk cartons etc. How do they sort those or do they just incinerate it all for heating? I hope it is not one of those "ship the trash to another country" thing. Also, when in doubt about if something is recyclable or not, would you usually put it in yellow and hope that it is recyclable? or put it in Black because you aren't sure? (I'm often unsure about food delivery packaging)

[@simplegermany]

According to research, it could be all three options. Here is a short documentary on what happens with the plastic trash: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKTNi5toq6ippNE If you don't know if it's recyclable, you can always Google it and then dispose of it correctly. With food delivery packaging, the rule is simple: if it's too dirty (more than 1-2 grease stains max) = black bin. If it's clean = plastic.

[@JustAnotherMe]

@@simplegermany Thank you! The documentary is exactly what I'd been looking for but couldn't find when searching in English. It's very informative.

[@hansmeiser32]

If a Pfandflasche doesn't get accepted by my local Rewe I throw it away because most of the time I don't remember where I bought them or it doesn't make sense to drive to a store 15 minutes away from home just to bring back one bottle. But that's less than 2 Euro a year. P.S.: My local Kiosk takes back Pfandflaschen - no problem.

[@ca4270]

That's what I was thinking...I'm not driving around town looking for different ones. I don't remember where I bought it. Truthfully, I don't always care if I get a deposit...I just want to be able to return/recycle the bottle so it doesn't end up in garbage 🤷‍♀️

[@simplegermany]

You can always collect them at home and when you have a few of these 'unkown' bottles return them all to a drinking store.

[@simplegermany]

Well, if you don't make an effort to return them and just throw them away -- they won't get recycled.

[@hansmeiser32]

@@simplegermany "Well, if you don't make an effort to return them and just throw them away -- they won't get recycled." In my case they go into the recycling bin (Gelber Sack). So they still get recycled, I just loose the deposit. "You can always collect them at home and when you have a few of these 'unkown' bottles return them all to a drinking store." You're right and I didn't know this but according to ChatGPT do drinking stores (Getränkemrkte) have to accept all single use deposit bottles (Einwegpfandflaschen) if they are of the same material and size as other bottles they sell. So, there's at least a chance they accept these bottles.

[@colinmackenzie4363]

If my local Rewe doesn't accept it, I leave it by the bin near the machine, and some Pfandflaschensammler will take it to the correct store and get the pfand.

[@Rini-f7e]

Hi... Can you please review on niyo global cards please.... Help me with this..

[@varshinisuresh9741]

What about oil that comes in plastic bottles?

[@simplegermany]

If it's empty = plastic

[@rishiraj2548]

😎

[@anita_R]

I make about 50 euros a week doing this on my walks.

[@ca4270]

Wow! That's a lot!

[@name_it]

You are assimilated to Germany, when you go to another country and you don't throw the bottle but looking where to recycle :)))) 😂 Even in the country where are you at it doenst exist such thing