Luxembourg (LU)
Luxembourg is a tiny but remarkably prosperous constitutional monarchy at the heart of Europe — a founding member of both the EU and NATO — celebrated as the world's most productive economy per capita, the EU's premier financial centre, and home to the highest minimum wage on the continent.
Recycling & Waste in Luxembourg
Bin system, bottle deposits, special disposal, and common mistakes.
Luxembourg has a well-developed and increasingly comprehensive waste recycling system. The Superdreckskëscht (SDL) is Luxembourg's flagship initiative for special waste and materials recovery — a network of collection points and a public education programme that has made Luxembourg one of Europe's recycling leaders. Each commune manages its own waste collection calendar (calendrier de collecte) — check your commune's website for exact pick-up days. Recycling rules vary slightly by commune. The Recyk'ling mobile app (available on iOS and Android) allows you to scan product barcodes and find the correct bin. Luxembourg is moving towards near-zero waste targets.
The Bin System
Recyclable packaging
Yellow bag or yellow binSac jaune (yellow bag) / Bac jaune
- ✓Plastic bottles and containers (rinsed)
- ✓Metal cans and tins (rinsed)
- ✓Aluminium foil and trays (clean)
- ✓Drink cartons (Tetrapak — rinsed, flattened)
- ✓Yoghurt pots and plastic trays
- ✓Aerosol cans (empty)
- ✗Glass (separate glass containers)
- ✗General plastic that is not packaging (plastic bags, cling film — varies by commune)
- ✗Dirty/food-soiled packaging that cannot be rinsed
- ✗Polystyrene (EPS foam)
Paper and cardboard
Blue bin or bundle for collectionBac bleu / Papier-Karton
- ✓Newspapers, magazines, flyers
- ✓Clean cardboard boxes (flattened)
- ✓Paper bags and envelopes (remove plastic windows)
- ✓Books and catalogues (remove hardcovers)
- ✓Wrapping paper (non-metallic)
- ✗Wet, greasy, or food-soiled paper/cardboard (pizza boxes with grease)
- ✗Waxed or laminated cartons (some juice cartons — check your commune)
- ✗Tissues, paper towels
- ✗Carbon paper
Glass
Green glass containers (separate by colour in some areas)Conteneurs à verre
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (all colours — some communes separate clear/green/brown)
- ✓Food jars (empty, rinsed)
- ✓Wine and beer bottles
- ✗Window glass, mirrors, or flat glass
- ✗Drinking glasses, cookware glass (Pyrex)
- ✗Light bulbs and fluorescent tubes (special disposal)
- ✗Porcelain and ceramics
Organic/compostable waste
Brown bin or brown bagDéchet organique / Biotonne / Bac marron
- ✓Food scraps (fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, cooked food)
- ✓Garden waste (grass, leaves, plant clippings)
- ✓Coffee grounds and filters
- ✓Tea bags (paper, no string)
- ✓Biodegradable kitchen towels (non-bleached)
- ✗Plastic bags (even "biodegradable" bags — not composted)
- ✗Glass, metals, packaging
- ✗Diseased plants
Residual waste
Grey or black binDéchets ménagers résiduels / Restmüll
- ✓Non-recyclable waste that does not fit other categories
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics (toys, pens, non-packaging plastic)
- ✓Soiled packaging that cannot be cleaned
- ✓Diapers and hygiene products
- ✓Cat litter
- ✗Batteries, electronics, chemicals (Superdreckskëscht)
- ✗Hazardous materials
- ✗Construction waste (separate drop-off)
No national DRS yet — law passed May 2022, system not yet operational — Bottle Deposit System
Luxembourg does NOT have an operational national deposit return scheme as of mid-2026. The parliament approved a DRS law on 5 May 2022, establishing a future national deposit system for all beverage packaging placed on the Luxembourg market (PET bottles, aluminium cans, glass), with deposit amounts between €0.10 and €1.00 depending on container type. However, the system operator had not yet been appointed as of 2025–2026 and the scheme has not launched. Many products sold in Luxembourg are imported from Germany and carry the German Pfand marking (€0.25 for single-use containers) — some supermarkets (Cactus, Auchan, Delhaize) have German-compatible RVMs for returning German Pfand bottles purchased in Luxembourg.
National Luxembourg DRS (not yet operational): deposit amounts set in the 2022 law at €0.10–€1.00 per container depending on type. German Pfand bottles (imported products sold in Luxembourg): €0.25 per single-use container where accepted at German-compatible machines.
No Luxembourg-specific deposit return scheme is operational yet. For German Pfand-marked bottles (common for many imported beers, waters, soft drinks): check if your local Cactus, Auchan, or Delhaize has an RVM that accepts them — not all locations do. When the national DRS launches, consult the Valorlux (valorlux.lu) or government (gouvernement.lu) websites for return point locations.
Special Disposal
Superdreckskëscht (SDL) collection points — at many communes, recycling centres, and participating retail stores. Mobile collection vehicles visit communes on a schedule. superdreckskescht.lu for locations and calendar.
Superdreckskëscht is Luxembourg's flagship special waste programme — highly developed and free for residents. This covers batteries, fluorescent tubes, paints, solvents, pesticides, used motor oil, and medications.
Superdreckskëscht. Electronics retailers accept items at purchase point. Recy Parks (communal recycling centres).
All electronics retailers are obligated to accept old electrical items when you purchase a new equivalent. This applies to TVs, computers, phones, small appliances. Superdreckskëscht handles items outside retail take-back.
Return to any pharmacy (pharmacie). Pharmacies are obligated to accept expired and unused medications.
Never put medications in regular waste or flush down the toilet — environmental contamination. Pharmacies participate in a medication collection programme.
Recy Parks (communal construction waste drop-off areas). Private skip hire services.
Construction waste (rubble, plasterboard, wood from renovation) must go to Recy Parks or be collected by licensed waste contractors. Not in general household bins.
Textile recycling containers (blue/white containers) found throughout communes. Caritas and Croix-Rouge second-hand shops accept usable clothing.
Textiles in reasonable condition: donate to charity shops (Caritas, Red Cross). Worn textiles: textile recycling containers at supermarkets, communes, and schools.
Communal bulky waste collection (encombrants) — specific days in commune calendar. Recy Parks for drop-off. Some charities collect usable furniture (Caritas Secondhand).
Never leave bulky waste on the street outside of scheduled collection days — this is illegal in Luxembourg and can result in fines of €500–1,000.
Bulk Waste
Each commune in Luxembourg organises scheduled bulky waste collection (collecte des encombrants / Sperrgutabholung) — typically 1–4 times per year. Check your commune's waste calendar at their website or the Recyklapp. Items can also be taken to Recy Parks (recycling and bulky waste drop-off centres). Some communes provide on-demand collection for a small fee. The Superdreckskëscht mobile app (or superdreckskescht.lu) has all location information for special waste and bulky waste.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ! Putting glass in the yellow packaging bin — glass has separate containers only
- ! Leaving bulky items on the pavement outside of scheduled collection days — illegal and subject to fine
- ! Putting batteries, fluorescent lights, or medications in household bins — these go to Superdreckskëscht
- ! Using non-approved plastic bags for organic waste collection — check your commune for approved bags
- ! Expecting a Luxembourg bottle deposit return — Luxembourg's national DRS law was passed in 2022 but the scheme is not yet operational; put bottles in the yellow bag unless they carry a German Pfand mark
- ! Not rinsing packaging before putting in yellow bag — soiled packaging may be rejected
Fines & Enforcement
Illegal dumping (dépôt clandestin/abandonment of waste) in Luxembourg can result in fines of €500–5,000 for individuals and higher for commercial entities. The Police Grand-Ducale and communal authorities actively enforce littering and illegal dumping rules. Leaving bulky items on the street outside of scheduled collection times: €500+ fine.
Practical Tips
- → Download the Recyk'ling app — invaluable for identifying the correct bin for any product
- → Check your commune's waste calendar (calendrier de collecte) at the start of each month and set reminders
- → The Superdreckskëscht network is excellent — use it for anything that does not fit the standard bins
- → In Luxembourg City, the Villé app provides commune-specific waste information and collection reminders
- → Organic waste collection is mandatory in most communes — do not put food waste in residual bins if you have a brown bin