We’re in trouble now!
We just received an official letter from the Trash Department (that’s probably not the exact translation, but it works) and we’re in violation of the law! At minimum, we are supposed to put our trash out 12 times per year. We have the smallest trash can and to empty it, it cost us 2 Euros. We knew there was a minimum, but thought it was 6 times per year. Since we pay per pickup, we are more careful about what we throw away and usually only fill it up every other month. So now, we have to make a habit of putting it out each month for pickup!
This is one of those times where we sigh and wonder about German laws. There is a law for the minimum amount of times a person can put out their trash! They’re trying to get us to be not so wasteful by recycling and such so why are they trying to make us put our trash out more than we need? Not only that, but the fine for not doing so is 1,000 Euros!
We tried to explain to our teacher the other day that Germany has many more laws than America – the general rule here is if it’s not expliciately allowed, than it must be forbidden (at least, that’s what we’ve been told). She asked for an example of this and we couldn’t think of one. Now we have an example to share with her – America has no such laws regarding trash (or do they?)
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The same thing is true here, if we don’t recycle, our trash bill goes up because we put it out more. It’s free to recycle so we might as well and once you get in the habit, it’s not too bad (I say that because Thadd is the master of all things recyclable…)
Make sure that whatever trash you bring with you doesn’t take up more room than the American things we’re going to ask you to buy for us!
hey guys,
on air force bases there are rules like this sometimes. when we were at columbus afb you had to put out your trash at least every other week or you could be sited. the same thing applied to recycling. i think it had to do with pest control. my parents have to recycle or their trash bill goes up.
So, when we come over, I guess we should bring some of our “American” trash with us! We’ll bring enough for you for about a year….
Whew! Glad to know your not out a 1,000 euros. I have heard that if someone is caught “littering” even here int eh Us it does cost $1,000. so that makes sense but how in the heck do they regulate that? I bet the Germans do more than we do. LOL
We checked with our neighbor and the fine is actually for dumping the trash in nature somewhere. They wanted to warn us in case that’s why we have so little trash. It’s not just that we have to pay regardless, it’s that we actually have to put the trash out once a month that’s strange to us. I guess they have their sanitary reasons…
YIKES!!! 1,000 Euros is a CRIME! Is there a way to appeal! Can you have your German teacher vouch/intercede for you?
I am glad to hear they have regulated trash but to make people DO the minumum sounds weird especially like you said if you don’t have enough trash. There should be some kind of sliding scale like for singles, marrieds, families. Less people less trash, more people, more trash. And or if it is a money thing..just charge you 2 euros a month even if you have trash or not. (that is really cheap in comparison to the US). Keep us posted!