Don't buy black plastic – and other recycling tips you might not know

It's of huge benefit if glass containers don't break when they land in the bin. The less damaged the glass is, the easier it is to recycle. Photo: Silvia Marks/dpa

Everyone can contribute to increasing the amount of rubbish that gets recycled and the amount of valuable resources that get reused. Here are three lesser-known tips to help you make your contribution.

Black or very dark plastics used to package food and other products are usually not recognised by the scanners at recycling plants and so they aren't recycled, according to the German Association of Local Utilities (VKU). That's why it's helpful to buy light-coloured plastic packaging if you can.