Czech Republic (CZ)
Czech Republic is a landlocked Central European parliamentary republic of 14 regions, home to the fairy-tale spires of Prague — one of Europe's best-preserved medieval capitals — as well as world-famous Bohemian crystal and glasswork, the birthplace of Pilsner lager, a thriving startup and tech scene anchored in Prague and Brno, and one of the lowest unemployment rates and most stable economies in the EU.
Recycling & Waste in Czech Republic
Bin system, bottle deposits, special disposal, and common mistakes.
Třídění odpadu (waste sorting) is mandatory in Czech Republic under zákon č. 541/2020 Sb. (Waste Act). Every household must sort waste into separate streams. Colour-coded bins are found in apartment building courtyards, public streets, and private houses. Czech Republic is investing heavily to meet EU recycling targets. The EKO-KOM scheme manages the packaging waste recovery system — the familiar green "Zelený bod" (Green Dot) symbol on packaging indicates a contribution to the scheme. The záloha (deposit) system for PET bottles and aluminium cans was planned for January 2026 but has been delayed by legislative hold — as of mid-2026 it is not yet in force (glass is exempt from the deposit).
The Bin System
Mixed / Residual Waste
Grey or black (šedý/černý)Směsný (zbytkový) odpad
- ✓Non-recyclable waste
- ✓Dirty food packaging that cannot be rinsed
- ✓Sanitary items (nappies, cotton wool)
- ✓Ceramics and crockery (not glass)
- ✓Cigarette ends
- ✓Vacuum cleaner bags and contents
- ✓Wet kitchen towels and paper towels
- ✓Cat litter
- ✓Mixed materials that cannot be separated
- ✗Recyclable materials (paper, plastic, glass, metal, bio)
- ✗Hazardous waste (batteries, medicines, paint)
- ✗Electronics and WEEE
- ✗Building rubble
- ✗Large items (bulky waste)
Plastics, Metals and Cartons
Yellow (žlutý)Plasty, kovy a nápojové kartóny
- ✓Plastic bottles (rinsed — PET)
- ✓Plastic packaging (rinsed — bags, cups, trays)
- ✓Plastic bags and foil (clean)
- ✓Metal cans (aluminium and steel, rinsed)
- ✓Metal lids and foil
- ✓Nápojové kartóny (Tetra Pak cartons — flattened and rinsed)
- ✓Metal tubes (toothpaste tubes)
- ✓Styrofoam (polystyrene) in many areas
- ✗Food-contaminated packaging
- ✗Glass
- ✗Ceramics
- ✗PET bottles with deposit (záloha) — return to shop instead
Paper and Cardboard
Blue (modrý)Papír
- ✓Newspapers and magazines
- ✓Books and notebooks
- ✓Cardboard boxes (flattened)
- ✓Office paper and envelopes
- ✓Paper bags and wrapping paper (without foil/glitter)
- ✓Catalogues and brochures
- ✓Paper packaging
- ✗Foil-coated or laminated paper
- ✗Wax paper or greaseproof paper
- ✗Paper napkins and kitchen paper (food-contaminated)
- ✗Nápojové kartóny (Tetra Pak) — goes in yellow bin
- ✗Pizza boxes with food residue — residual bin
Coloured Glass
Green (zelený)Barevné sklo
- ✓Coloured glass bottles (wine, beer, spirits)
- ✓Coloured glass jars (food, condiments)
- ✓Brown and green glass
- ✗Clear/white glass (separate white bin)
- ✗Window glass (goes to sběrný dvůr)
- ✗Mirrors and frosted glass
- ✗Ceramics and porcelain
- ✗Crystal glass
- ✗Light bulbs
- ✗Pyrex/heat-resistant glass
- ✗Glass bottles with záloha (deposit) — return to shop
Clear Glass
White (bílý) — in areas where provided separatelyČiré (bílé) sklo
- ✓Clear/transparent glass bottles and jars
- ✓White and clear glass containers
- ✗Coloured glass (green/brown)
- ✗Ceramics, mirrors, window glass
- ✗Crystal, pyrex
Bio / Organic Waste
Brown or orange (hnědý/oranžový)Biologický odpad (bioodpad)
- ✓Food scraps (vegetable and fruit peelings)
- ✓Coffee grounds and tea bags (without metal staple)
- ✓Eggshells
- ✓Bread and bakery products (without packaging)
- ✓Garden waste (grass clippings, leaves, small branches)
- ✓Cut flowers
- ✓Paper napkins soiled only with food (not cleaning products)
- ✗Meat and fish (some municipalities prohibit — check locally)
- ✗Cooking oils and fats
- ✗Packaging of any kind
- ✗Cat litter
- ✗Ashes
Záloha na nápojové obaly (Deposit Return System) — Bottle Deposit System
Czech Republic has been working to introduce a mandatory deposit return system (záloha) for PET plastic bottles and aluminium cans. Glass containers are exempt. The launch was originally planned for January 2026, but the enabling amendment to the Packaging Act was put on hold due to legislative delays before the autumn 2025 elections — as of mid-2026 the system has not yet launched and the timeline is uncertain pending new government action. When enacted, it will cover soft drinks and alcoholic beverages up to 15% alcohol in containers 0.1–3L.
PET plastic bottles (up to 3L): CZK 4 deposit. Aluminium cans (up to 1L): CZK 4 deposit. Deposit amount set by decree; glass packaging is NOT included.
Return to any shop that sells beverages above the minimum threshold. Reverse vending machines (zpětné automaty) being installed in larger supermarkets. Cash or voucher received on return. Bottles with záloha must NOT go in the glass or plastic recycling bin — return to the deposit point.
Special Disposal
Sběrný dvůr (recycling centre) in your municipality. Also: many electronics shops take back old equipment (e.g. IKEA, MediaMarkt, Datart). Charity shops for working items.
E-waste cannot go in regular bins — toxic materials. WEEE includes: computers, phones, TVs, kitchen appliances, cables.
Dedicated battery collection boxes (sběrné nádoby na baterie) in supermarkets (Albert, Kaufland, Billa, Lidl), schools, and post offices. Also at sběrný dvůr.
Household batteries (AA, AAA, 9V, button cells) and rechargeable batteries all collected. Never in regular bins.
Lékárna (pharmacy) — all pharmacies are required to accept unused or expired medicines and medical devices.
Never flush medicines down toilet or throw in bins. Return to nearest lékárna free of charge.
Sběrný dvůr (výkupní místa nebezpečného odpadu) only. Never in any regular bin.
Paint, varnishes, garden chemicals, motor oil, cleaning concentrates. Small quantities accepted free for residents.
Sběrný dvůr (free for registered municipality residents with ID). Some municipalities have scheduled bulk waste collection days (Odpad — velké kusy).
Do not leave bulky waste in the street — this is illegal dumping (černá skládka) and subject to fine.
Sběrný dvůr (check if your centre accepts it — some have limits). Private skip hire (kontejner) for larger quantities.
Renovation debris cannot go in any household bin. Separate from other waste streams.
Textile collection containers (kontejnery na šatstvo) across Czech cities. Diakonie, Červený kříž, or Caritas charity donation points.
Clean, dry clothing and shoes only. Torn or very dirty items: residual waste.
Sběrný dvůr. Some supermarkets have used cooking oil collection.
Never pour cooking oil or fat down the drain — causes blockages and water contamination.
Bulk Waste
Sběrný dvůr (formerly REMA or obecní sběrný dvůr): municipal recycling and waste centres open to residents. Free for most household waste categories with proof of residence (ID with registered address). Find your nearest sběrný dvůr at the website of your municipality (obec/město). Most are open 5–6 days/week. Illegal dumping (černá skládka) carries fines up to CZK 100,000.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ! Putting glass bottles with záloha in the glass bin — return to deposit machine at supermarket
- ! Nápojové kartóny (Tetra Pak) in the blue paper bin — they go in the yellow bin
- ! Pizza boxes with food residue in the blue paper bin — residual waste
- ! Batteries in any household bin — use supermarket collection boxes
- ! Medicines in any household bin — take to lékárna (pharmacy)
- ! Electronics in any household bin — take to sběrný dvůr
- ! Not rinsing plastic or metal containers before putting in yellow bin
- ! Not flattening cardboard boxes — they take too much space in the blue bin
- ! Window glass and mirrors in the glass bin — they have different chemical composition; take to sběrný dvůr
- ! Ceramics in the glass bin — ceramics go in residual waste
Fines & Enforcement
Fines for incorrect waste sorting vary by municipality: typically CZK 1,000–5,000 per incident for households. Building managers and companies face higher fines. Illegal dumping (černá skládka): up to CZK 100,000 for individuals, CZK 1,000,000 for companies. Municipal police (městská/obecní policie) and waste inspection authorities enforce compliance.
Practical Tips
- → Download the EKO-KOM Třídit.cz app for guidance on which bin to use for any packaging material.
- → Your municipality publishes a svozový harmonogram (collection schedule) for each waste stream — check online or ask at the municipal office.
- → In apartment buildings: communal bins are in the dvůr (courtyard). Follow the schedule posted by the správce domu (building manager).
- → If in doubt about where something goes: take it to the sběrný dvůr — always free and always right.
- → The záloha system: always check if your drinks bottle or can has a deposit symbol — keep and return for money back.
- → EKO-KOM: packaging with the Zelený bod (Green Dot) symbol is financed through the EKO-KOM recovery scheme. This does NOT automatically mean it goes in the recycling bin — check material composition.