Deutsch lernen (A2) | Das Deutschlandlabor | Folge 11: Müll

Deutsch lernen mit der DW

3 Dec 201504:52

Summary

TLDRIn this video script, Nina and David from Deutschlandlabor explore the German approach to waste management. They discuss the average 450 kg of waste per person produced annually and the extensive recycling practices in Germany, including separating waste for recycling and special disposal of items like old bicycles and batteries. The script highlights the high recycling rate, with 80% of waste being recycled, and the use of waste-to-energy systems. It also emphasizes the importance of reducing waste at the source by shopping at markets and stores that offer unpackaged goods, promoting a more sustainable lifestyle.

Takeaways

🗑️ Each German produces about 450 kilograms of waste per year, highlighting the importance of proper waste management.
🔄 Most Germans separate their waste for recycling, which is a common practice in households with different bins for various types of waste.
🏘️ German streets have containers for returning glass waste, and old batteries can be handed in at shops, while electronic waste is disposed of at a waste disposal site.
🤔 The video script prompts viewers to consider if they separate their waste, indicating the relevance of this behavior in German society.
🚲 Special waste like broken bicycles cannot be thrown away in regular bins and must be taken to a recycling site for proper disposal.
💼 Staff at waste disposal sites are knowledgeable about where different types of waste should be placed, ensuring correct recycling procedures.
♻️ In Germany, 80 percent of waste is recycled, with electronic waste having an even higher recycling rate.
🔥 About 10 percent of waste is incinerated, with the heat generated being used for heating systems or hot water.
🌲 Over two-thirds of paper produced in Germany is made from recycled paper, and some products like cartons are made entirely from recycled paper.
🛍️ Avoiding waste is better than recycling it, and the script shows Nina and David trying to buy as many groceries as possible without packaging.
🛒 The script demonstrates various ways to reduce packaging waste, such as buying unpackaged goods at the market or bringing your own containers to the store.

Q & A

What is the average amount of waste produced per person in Germany per year according to the script?
-The script states that each German produces approximately 450 kilograms of waste per year.
How do Germans typically handle their waste separation?
-Germans usually separate their waste for recycling purposes, with different bins for different types of waste at each house, and containers for glass on the streets.
What are the common types of waste bins found at German households?
-The common types of waste bins found at German households include bins for bio waste, paper, packaging, and residual waste.
How do Germans dispose of old batteries and electronic waste?
-Old batteries can be handed in at shops, and electronic waste is taken to a waste disposal site or recycling yard.
What does the script suggest about the recycling rate of waste in Germany?
-The script indicates that 80 percent of waste in Germany is recycled, with an even higher percentage for electronic waste.
What happens to the waste that is not recycled in Germany?
-About 10 percent of the waste is incinerated, with the heat generated being used for heating systems or hot water.
What is the script's stance on the use of packaging in Germany?
-The script suggests that while there is still too much packaging waste, it is possible to reduce waste at the point of purchase with a bit of effort.
How do Nina and David attempt to reduce packaging waste when shopping for groceries?
-Nina and David try to buy as many groceries as possible without packaging, such as at the market where many goods are unwrapped or at a bio supermarket where most items are nearly unwrapped.
What alternative to plastic packaging is used for eggs and cheese in the script?
-In the script, eggs are packed in plastic, but cheese is packed in paper as an alternative to plastic packaging.
What is the script's suggestion for a gift that could help reduce the use of plastic bags?
-The script suggests a gift that implies the recipient won't need a plastic bag for their next shopping trip, likely a reusable bag.
How does the script describe the process of buying unpackaged dry goods at Frau Deinet's store?
-At Frau Deinet's store, dry goods are sold loose in bins, and customers can either bring their own containers or use paper bags to fill with the goods they purchase.

Outlines

00:00

🗑️ German Waste Management and Recycling Practices

The script introduces Nina and David from Deutschlandlabor, who address the topic of waste in Germany. They discuss the average waste production per German citizen, which is about 450 kilograms per year, and the importance of waste separation for recycling. The script describes various waste bins for different types of waste, including containers for glass and places to drop off old batteries and electronic waste. The hosts also ask viewers about their own waste separation habits and share their personal recycling routine, which includes four different waste bins at home and a trip to a recycling yard. They highlight the process of recycling at the yard, where employees help sort waste into the correct containers.

🔄 The Recycling Process at a German Waste Yard

This paragraph delves into the specifics of the recycling process at a waste yard in Germany. It explains how employees at the yard are knowledgeable about the correct disposal of various types of waste, including David's broken bike, which can be recycled. The script provides insight into the high recycling rates in Germany, with 80 percent of waste being recycled, and even higher rates for electronic waste. It also mentions the use of heat generated from waste incineration for heating and hot water, and the transportation of waste to the incineration plant. The paragraph concludes with a demonstration of the correct way to dispose of different materials, such as paper and metal scraps, at the yard.

🌿 Reducing Waste by Avoiding Packaging

The final paragraph of the script focuses on the concept of waste reduction through avoiding packaging. Nina and David share their efforts to buy as many groceries as possible without packaging, such as at a market where goods are sold unpackaged and in a bio-supermarket where items are minimally packaged. They discuss the practice of bringing their own containers for shopping and the availability of paper bags as an alternative to plastic. The script also includes a visit to a store where unpackaged dry goods are sold, allowing customers to fill their own containers. The paragraph emphasizes the environmental benefits of reducing packaging waste and concludes with a gift to encourage further waste reduction.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Müll

Müll refers to 'waste' or 'garbage' in German. The video discusses how much waste is produced in Germany and the various methods for managing it. The focus is on the importance of waste separation and recycling to reduce environmental impact.

💡Recycling

Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects. The video highlights that in Germany, 80% of waste is recycled, with even higher rates for electronic waste. Recycling helps conserve resources and reduce landfill use.

💡Mülltrennung

Mülltrennung means 'waste separation' in German. It involves sorting waste into different categories such as bio, paper, packaging, and residual waste. This practice is crucial for effective recycling and waste management, as illustrated by the different bins and containers used in German households and public spaces.

💡Wertstoffhof

A Wertstoffhof is a recycling center where people can drop off various types of waste, including electronic waste, batteries, and metals. The video shows Nina and David visiting a Wertstoffhof to properly dispose of items like a broken bicycle, demonstrating responsible waste disposal.

💡Verpackungsmüll

Verpackungsmüll means 'packaging waste' in German. It refers to waste generated from packaging materials. The video emphasizes the high volume of packaging waste and the efforts to reduce it by buying unpackaged goods or using reusable containers.

💡Altglas

Altglas refers to 'used glass' or 'glass recycling' in German. Containers for collecting used glass are commonly found on German streets. The video mentions these containers as part of the waste separation system, highlighting the importance of recycling glass.

💡Biomüll

Biomüll refers to 'organic waste' in German. This includes food scraps and garden waste, which are separated from other types of waste for composting or biogas production. The video mentions the use of bio bins in households for this purpose.

💡Elektroschrott

Elektroschrott means 'electronic waste' in German. It includes discarded electronic devices like old batteries and appliances. The video shows that electronic waste has a high recycling rate in Germany and must be disposed of properly at recycling centers.

💡Restmüll

Restmüll refers to 'residual waste' in German. This is the waste that cannot be recycled or composted and is usually incinerated. The video explains that about 10% of waste is incinerated in Germany, and the energy produced is used for heating and hot water.

💡Vermeidung

Vermeidung means 'avoidance' in German. In the context of waste management, it refers to reducing waste production at the source. The video suggests avoiding packaging waste by buying unpackaged goods or using reusable containers, as Nina and David do during their shopping trips.

Highlights

Germans produce approximately 450 kilograms of waste per person each year.

Most Germans sort their waste for recycling purposes.

Different waste bins are used for various types of waste in each household.

Special containers for glass recycling are placed on the streets.

Old batteries can be returned in stores, and electronic waste at a waste disposal site.

The hosts of Deutschlandlabor, Nina and David, encourage viewers to sort their waste.

Nina and David have four waste bins at home for bio, paper, packaging, and residual waste.

They collect glass and batteries for recycling and transport other waste to a recycling yard.

At the waste disposal site, employees know which waste goes into which container.

David's broken bicycle can be recycled, demonstrating the recycling process.

80 percent of waste in Germany is recycled, with electronic waste having an even higher rate.

About 10 percent of waste is incinerated, with the heat used for heating or hot water.

More than two-thirds of paper produced in Germany is made from recycled paper.

Cartons are 100 percent made from recycled paper.

Nina and David aim to buy as many unpackaged food items as possible.

At the market, many goods are sold unpackaged, and customers can bring their own containers.

In a specific organic supermarket, almost nothing is packaged, and customers can fill their own vessels.

Nina and David demonstrate buying unpackaged dry fruits and cereals, and shampoo without packaging.

A store featured allows customers to buy unpackaged dry goods, reducing packaging waste.

Fresh vegetables in Germany do not require packaging, contributing to waste reduction.

Although Germany produces a lot of waste, the practice of waste sorting allows for significant recycling.

With a bit of effort, waste can be reduced starting from the shopping process.

Nina and David gift a reusable bag to demonstrate an alternative to plastic bags.