Word! The Language Column  Rubbish Bins and Yellow Bags

How is German identity forged? Exactly: by sorting waste correctly. As a teacher of German as a foreign language, Christiane Rösinger introduced her students to the secrets of different types of waste and their containers. After all, only those who separate their rubbish correctly are properly integrated.

Anyone who wants to understand what was important to the Germans in the first decades of the 21st century, how they defined themselves and their culture, what was considered “German” at the time, i.e. what constituted the character, spirit and soul of the Germans, will quickly come across waste separation as an identity-forming endeavour on the part of the Germans.

Blissful obsession

During their excavations, the antiquarians of the future will inevitably come across many "German as a second language" textbooks, which were widely used during the so-called "first refugee crisis" from 2015 onwards and gave textbook publishers a boost. The historians of the future will analyse the textbooks and inevitably come to the conclusion: Waste separation was the Germans’ greatest national asset in those days, their greatest happiness.

When I started teaching German as a foreign language as a lecturer in 2016, I was asked to work with these textbooks and soon realised that they were obsessed with the German system of waste separation. In many books, the chapter on “Living in Germany” deals mainly with the obligation to separate waste. German beginners learn about the different types of waste and where to put them. They learn that broken electrical appliances, batteries or bulky waste can be taken to a recycling centre free of charge.

Separating waste in everyday life

The following phrases are introduced:

• This goes in organic waste / in residual waste / in waste paper / in the yellow bag.
• The medicine has expired.
• The rubbish collection is coming.
• We have to put out the rubbish.

In the oral exam, the students have to talk about the waste separation system in their home country and compare it with the German system.

The chief graphic designers of the textbooks for integration courses must have been big fans of the photo love story in the teen magazine Bravo when they were young. In the photo story, which introduces the topic of waste separation, the good-hearted South American au pair meets the good-natured caretaker in the garden, who generously forgives her small mistakes in separating waste and is happy to explain to the young woman exactly how waste is separated in Germany.

They have also come up with something funny in the intensive training booklet for the textbook: the talking rubbish bin. A reading story about Berlin bins that say “thank you”. A discussion follows.

Separated waste – successful integration

How can we explain the Germans’ emotional love of waste separation? It can’t just be pure love of the environment, of the German forest, of creation. It is more likely to be a love of regulation, German thoroughness, the joy of lecturing and being right, the desire to abide by rules and the desire to discipline others. That’s why the first lesson for the new citizens is: integration means sorting out the rubbish.

 Perhaps one of the reasons for the over-commitment to waste separation is that inappropriate waste separation in blocks of flats often leads to disputes. In some cities, leaflets are available. They offer “Help with correct waste separation” in nine languages. However, as most refugees have to wait years for an apartment, they will not receive these leaflets and will not be able to separate their rubbish. But one day in the distant future, when they are lucky enough to have their asylum application approved and have found their own flat, they will be standing in front of these bins. And then they will finally be able to use their skills and prove how well they have integrated. 

March 2025