Collection Systems in Hungary 🇭🇺
About
Hungary uses a color-coded container system with separate streams for packaging, paper, glass, and organics. Collection routes vary by municipality, with some areas using collection islands (bring points) rather than kerbside collection.
Collection Streams
Plastic & Metal Packaging (Yellow)
What goes in:
- Plastic packaging: PET drink bottles; rinsed household bottles/flasks (shampoo, detergent); rinsed dairy cups/tubs; clean plastic film/foils (bags, wrappers); caps/lids
- Metal packaging: drink cans; food cans; metal caps/lids
- Multi-layer drink cartons (e.g., milk/juice cartons)
- Some areas also accept small household metal items (non-packaging) like cutlery
What does NOT go in:
- Plastic toys, CDs/DVDs, cassette tapes, etc.
- Hazardous/dirty packaging: containers that held strong chemicals / are greasy
- Paint cans/sprays, batteries, electronics parts
- Food-contaminated cans (with leftover food) are rejected in guidance
Notes:
- Empty only (no need to wash), and flatten where possible
- Hazardous packaging (paint/solvent/oil containers) should go to hazardous collection
- Food-contaminated cans should be cleaned or go to residual
Paper & Cardboard (Blue)
What goes in:
- Paper packaging: cardboard boxes, corrugated cardboard, wrapping/packaging paper, egg cartons
- Non-packaging paper also commonly accepted: newspapers, magazines, flyers, office/printer paper, notebooks, books
What does NOT go in:
- Greasy/heavily contaminated paper (e.g., oil-soaked)
- Plastic-coated covers/foil-lined paper, carbon paper / fax paper
- Used hygiene paper (dirty tissues, napkins) and diapers
Notes:
- Flatten boxes; if large cardboard doesn't fit, some services allow it tied/bundled next to the bin on collection day
Glass Packaging (Green - Collection Points)
What goes in:
- Glass packaging only ('hollow glass'): beverage bottles and jars (clear/white and coloured), baby-food jars
- Some guides also mention perfume bottles as hollow packaging
What does NOT go in:
- Not glass packaging: window/flat glass, mirrors; light bulbs/tubes; heat-resistant cookware (e.g., oven-proof glass dishes); porcelain/ceramics
- Medicine bottles and hazardous-substance glass
Notes:
- Often split into 'white/clear' vs 'coloured' glass containers where available; some places have only one glass container
- Local infrastructure varies more than paper/plastics
Bio-waste / Organics (Brown)
What goes in:
- Food and kitchen organics (no packaging): fruit & vegetable scraps; coffee grounds; tea leaves (no filter); spices/herbs; eggshells; cooked leftovers; bread/bakery; sauces/dressings; processed foods; meat products; cereals; dairy; contents of canned/preserved foods
What does NOT go in:
- No packaging of any kind, bones, vacuum cleaner bags/filters, used hygiene waste (tissues/diapers), cigarette butts, sponges/cleaning cloths
- In official Budapest guidance: also no branches/leaves/twigs, and no residual waste
Notes:
- Roll-out varies by municipality and building type. MOHU states a gradual roll-out starting 1 Jan 2024; Budapest notes it started in selected districts first
- Contamination controls exist: if the brown bin contains wrong waste, it may be treated as residual waste
Residual Waste (Green/Black/Grey)
What goes in:
- Everything that is not accepted in separate recycling/bio streams, and is not hazardous/bulky
- Common examples: used tissues/napkins, diapers, greasy/dirty packaging, 'mixed-material' items you can't separate
What does NOT go in:
- Recyclables collected separately (paper, plastic, metal) should not go here
- Also liquids, toxic/flammable/explosive substances, construction & demolition rubble, bulky waste, animal carcasses, e-waste (electronics), hot or large amounts of ash
Notes:
- If prohibited waste is put in the mixed bin, collection can be refused (or handled differently by the provider)
- Ash: only small amounts, fully cooled (at least ~2 days), bagged & tied, and only up to a limited share of the bin
Deposit Return Scheme (DRS / REpont)
What goes in:
- Marked drink containers (plastic, metal, glass) typically 0.1–3 L with the official return marking: return via REpont
- Reusable ('multi-use') deposit bottles: typically returned at the place of sale
What does NOT go in:
- Unmarked bottles/cans are not part of deposit return: they should go to the normal municipal recycling stream
Notes:
- REpont generally requires undamaged containers (guidance emphasises they only accept intact containers)
- If it's deposit-marked, returning it is the intended route (you get the money back)
Sources:
What Gets Collected
Accepted Items
- • Packaging materials (varies by stream)
- • Empty and clean containers
- • Material-specific items
Not Accepted
- • Non-packaging items
- • Contaminated materials
- • Hazardous containers with contents
Regional Variations
Collection systems in Hungary may vary by municipality or region. Local sorting capabilities, collection infrastructure, and acceptance criteria can differ significantly even within the same country.
Important Notes
Collection infrastructure varies significantly across Hungary—some areas use collection islands (bring points) rather than kerbside collection
Bio-waste collection is being phased in gradually—check if your municipality/building has this service
The packaging-only rule is important for plastic and metal streams—non-packaging items typically don't belong there
Sources
Collection system information is based on national and regional guidelines. For the most current and location-specific information, consult local waste management authorities.