Reutlingen Makes “Plastic-Free Organic Waste” a Reality!

The city of Reutlingen in Germany shows how to achieve plastic-free organic waste: Using AI checks, clear colour-coded warning systems, and compostable organic waste bags, the city is consistently implementing the new organic waste regulation.

TBR - Technische Betriebsdienste Reutlingen

With the new Organic Waste Regulation (BioAbfV), Germany aims to curb microplastics in compost. The city of Reutlingen is demonstrating how this can be done using AI detection systems, biodegradable bags, and a clear colour-coded warning system for clean organic waste.

Plastics currently account for the largest share of contaminants in organic waste. They gradually break down into microplastics, contaminate the waste, and ultimately enter the environment via compost. To counteract this, the BioAbfV (Organic Waste Ordinance) aims to significantly reduce such contamination in soil and water, thereby mitigating the risks posed by microplastics to humans and nature. The amendment to the Organic Waste Ordinance takes effect in May 2025, and organic waste may no longer contain more than 0.5% plastics or other foreign substances before treatment.

For the City of Reutlingen and TBR (Technische Betriebsdienste Reutlingen), this means in practice that the operator of the waste treatment facility can now bill the generator—that is, you—for the additional costs of subsequent foreign material separation. This applies if the foreign material content exceeds three percent or the plastic content exceeds one percent in the delivered organic waste. In extreme cases, the operator may reject visibly contaminated organic waste upon receipt.

Against this backdrop, the city of Reutlingen launched the program "Plastic-Free Organic Waste! – Join Us!” in early 2025. In addition to awareness-raising initiatives such as the traffic light tags, the use of AI-based recognition systems on garbage trucks is a key component of the campaign.

Consumers found these traffic-light tags on their organic waste bins during the first three months. Currently, only red tags are being distributed. Photo: TBR

These systems enable visual inspection of organic waste bins and can identify foreign materials (metals and plastics) either before or during the emptying process.

The city administration is also promoting the use of the "Biobags,” ("Biotüte" in German) an eco-friendly bag completely made from recycled, unbleached, and tear-resistant paper that remains sturdy even when wet. According to Monika Serrancoli of TBR, the Biotüte is carbon-neutral and fully compostable. She adds, "Thanks to its handles, it can be reused multiple times—for example, first as a shopping bag and later for organic waste.”

TBR "Biobags”

The campaign was carried out in several phases. During the first three months, households were informed about the level of contaminants in their organic waste via color-coded cards attached to their trash cans: Properly sorted cans received green cards, while cans with minor contaminants received yellow cards. In the next phase, bins that exceeded the permissible contamination level received red cards and were not emptied. In such cases, households had to manually re-sort the waste themselves and put the bin out again for the next regular pickup, or request a special pickup from the TBR. The special pickup is subject to a fee, the amount of which depends on the bin size. Therefore, anyone who has not sorted the unsorted bin themselves has the option to choose the special fee and pay as specified in the fee schedule:

€64.50 for an 80-litre bin
€68.80 for a 140-litre bin
€83.90 for a 240-litre bin

These measures, including the right to refuse collection, are enshrined in municipal waste laws. "If foreign objects are detected during collection—for example, by the AI-powered camera system—TBR may initiate administrative violation proceedings in accordance with waste management laws. Depending on the severity of the violation, fines of up to €100,000 may be imposed pursuant to Section 8(3) of the Municipal Waste Act (KAG).”

This legal framework ensures an effective reduction of plastic contamination in organic waste and promotes the quality of compost and soil protection.

Result

Since its inception, the program has shown promising results: Initially, 21% of the organic waste bins were filled incorrectly, but by March, that figure had dropped to 11%. Nevertheless, further improvements are needed. Matthias Kuster, deputy operations manager at TBR, notes that the new software is still learning: "It’s not always easy to detect a dirty white plastic bag among organic waste. That’s why we review every image manually and adjust the light sensitivity as needed.” He emphasises, however, that the system is working well and has already attracted regional attention: "Half of southern Germany wants to see how it works here.”

Monika Serrancoli from TBR’s public relations department speaks of a "milestone” that has been reached: At the launch of the "Plastic-Free Organic Waste!” campaign – Join Us,” at the start of the campaign, the TBR had to flag 21% of the inspected brown bins. By April 2025, that figure had dropped to 11%. Seven months later, in July, fewer than 5% of all inspected organic waste bins in the city had any issues.

Contact

TBR - Technische Betriebsdienste Reutlingen
Am Heilbrunnen 107
D - 72766 Reutlingen

phone:+49 712 1303 2901

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