Will separation in Reutlingen: will soon be at risk of expensive fine? React like this!

The waste separation is a central part of everyday German household life, but there are always difficulties that lead to incorrect filling of organic waste bins. In Reutlingen, the city administration will take measures from January 2024 to check the correct separation of organic waste and enforce possible fines. Because if there is a lack of separation, the residents could threaten fines between 60 and 80 euros, such as Derwesten.de reported.

A crucial element of this new initiative is the use of artificial intelligence (AI). From January 2024, AI-based cameras will be installed on four garbage trucks that are able to recognize foreign substances in organic waste. A camera scans the organic waste from above, while another in the vehicle analyzes the content. Each vehicle can operate two tons at the same time, and the total costs for the equipment with these cameras amount to up to 50,000 euros. The fines serve, among other things, to finance this technical equipment.

implementation in two phases

The introduction takes place in two phases. In the first phase in January, also referred to as the "yellow phase", the garbage men will distribute note lists at the biotons. During this period, correctly filled tons get a green note, while incorrectly filled tons receive a yellow note. All tons are still emptied in this phase. From April the "red phase" comes into force, in which the red pieces of paper show that cameras have recognized false garbage. In these cases, the garbage can stops or a fine is imposed.

In addition, the city starts an information campaign entitled "Plastic -free bio -waste! - Take a sensitization to the population to sensitize the topic of waste separation in January 2024. In particular, the filling of the biotons with plastic bags, which can cause considerable problems in composting systems, are particularly concerned. With regard to new legal requirements, which stipulate from May 2024 that organic waste may contain a maximum of three percent false garbage, the city will take measures to achieve this goal. Positive developments in other cities have shown that the proportion of interference substances can also be reduced, which is also expected in Reutlingen, such as SWR.de reported.