Plastics, metals and drink cartons (PMD)

Plastics, metal packaging (tins, cans) and drink cartons (PMD) can be placed in a PMD container at a sorting station or recycling centre. Reprocessors can make these materials into a variety of products such as shampoo bottles, lunch boxes and buckets. If you separate your plastic packaging, tins and drink cartons, you will have less residual waste left. This allows you to save money on residual waste bags and helps protect our planet. This page explains how we collect PMD waste and what goes into the PMD container. 

Disposal

You can put your plastic packaging, metal packaging and drink cartons in a PMD container at your nearest sorting station or recycling centre. Packaging has to be empty, but does not have to be rinsed out. Separate materials as well as possible before disposing of them. This makes them easier to reprocess and recycle.

Please put your PMD waste items one by one in the container at the sorting station. Please do not use an opaque bag, such as a black bin bag, as the waste management facility will reject it.

Charges

You can dispose of your PMD free of charge.

Complaint or report

Is a PMD container full? Or do you have another question or comment? Let us know via the MijnGemeente app or call us on 14 043. 

  • Yes please
    Cling film and aluminium foil (used or unused)

    Empty metal and tin packaging, such as: 

    • Aluminium trays (cat food, etc.)
    • Food tins (soup, vegetables, etc.)
    • Drink cans (a deposit on drink cans will be introduced on 31 December 2022)
    • Steel syrup bottles

    Empty plastic packaging, such as: 

    • Yoghurt cups, ice cream cups, etc.
    • Bottles (soft drinks, vinegar, detergent, etc.)
      Please note that a deposit on small plastic bottles was introduced on 1 July 2021.
    • Bottles for detergents, shampoo and soap
    • Squeeze bottles for sauces, oil, etc.
    • Tubs for butter, cheese spread, etc. 
    • Packaging for fruit, cheese, meat, fish, etc.
    • Shirt and T-shirt packaging
    • Bags for pasta, rice, bread, etc.
    Empty food and drink cartons (juice, milk, yoghurt etc.)
    Crisp packets (not recyclable, but allowed in PMD)
    Blister packs (not recyclable, but allowed in PMD)
    Plant pots (plastic inner pot)
    Plastic and metal lids and caps (in the case of glass jars, they may also go in the bottle bank)
    Plastic filing strips
    Plastic bags
    Tubes (cream, toothpaste, etc.)
    No thanks
    Where to put it
    Shopping bags Residual waste
    Biodegradable packaging Residual waste
    Animal carcasses and by-products Dispose of at the vet
    Needles and medical waste Dispose of at the pharmacist
    Christmas tree nets Residual waste
    Plastic face masks Residual waste
    Agricultural plastic and weed barrier Residual waste
    Empty aerosol cans (whipped cream, hairspray etc.) Residual waste
    Metal building and demolition materials (zinc gutters, copper or lead pipes, etc.) Recycling centre
    Nets from, for instance, oranges (can cause the machine to jam) Residual waste
    Polystyrene (meat trays, etc.) Residual waste
    Plastic bottles with deposit logo Deposit machines at shops
    Items made of hard plastic, such as buckets, chairs, dishwashing racks and toys Recycling centre
    Garden hoses, ropes and cables Residual waste
    Paint tins and canisters Empty tins and canisters count as residual waste; tins and canisters with residues left inside count as small chemical waste (recycling centre)
    Packs that are not empty Residual waste
    Chemical waste packaging (make-up packaging, turpentine bottles, petrol, sealant tubes, etc.) Small chemical waste
    Video and cassette tapes Residual waste
    Paddling pools Residual waste

    In the Milieu App you will find a practical, comprehensive waste separation guide. A yes/no list tells you what to do with each type of waste.

  • We are currently investigating collection options for plastics, metals and drink cartons (PMD). PMD waste is often contaminated, making it unsuitable for recycling. We may start door-to-door collection in the future, where PMD waste is put out for collection in transparent bags. Several municipalities in the south of Limburg have adopted this method already. We do not expect to start door-to-door collection of PMD waste this year. If we do so, you will be informed. PMD waste can be placed in the (underground) containers at 56 sorting stations until then. We encourage you to find your nearest sorting station and throw out your PMD waste whenever it suits you. You can also dispose of paper, cardboard, glass, baby nappies and incontinence pads at the sorting stations.

    • Half full food and drink cartons and half used bottles of shampoo create problems for our sorting facility. They cause unnecessary disruptions and cannot be recycled. Please empty your packaging well; rinsing is not necessary. Pull off the aluminium lid of your yoghurt cup. Both can go in the PMD container, but need to be separated before disposal. Do not put any plastic packaging in empty food tins. Packaging is only recyclable if it is empty and “loose”.
    • A deposit on PET bottles up to 1 litre was introduced on 1 July 2021. Do not throw them out with your PMD waste, but return them at a deposit machine in a shop or supermarket. A deposits on tins will be introduced as per 31 december 2022.