A complete guide to recycling and waste management in Budapest

General recycling in Budapest

Every building comes with basic rubbish bins (green), as well as paper recycling (blue) and plastic and metal recycling (yellow). These are usually found on the ground floor of your apartment complex.

Paper recycling (blue bins):
-newspapers
-magazines
-booklets, books
-corrugated paper, wrapping paper
-cardboard boxes, rinsed cartons (milk, fruit juice, etc)

Plastic and metal recycling (yellow bins):
-soft drink and mineral water PET bottles
-rinsed household bottles and their unscrewed caps (shampoo, shower gel, etc)
-clean household foil (bags, sachets, packaging foil)
-washed milk and yoghurt cartons
-household scrap metal (ie cutlery) and metal cans (beverage and foods)

*From 2011, both metal and plastic waste can be placed in yellow and grey containers, but after emptying, the collected waste will be separated.

**At supermarkets it is possible to return some plastic and glass bottles for a small refund. Usually, it is listed next to the machines which brands will be accepted.

Glass recycling

Like in many European cities, glass recycling must be sorted into two categories: clear and coloured. There are glass drop-off points (or 'waste islands' as they’re officially called) located around the city. An interactive map can be found here. Purple points are glass-only, and yellow points include other recycling options, such as paper, plastic and metals.

White glass includes:
-transparent hollow bottles, ie mason jars, beverage glass bottles, baby-food bottles

Coloured glass includes:
-coloured hollow bottles, ie wine bottles, champagne bottles, beer bottles

Batteries and electronic waste

As well as being accepted in landfills, there are locations around the city which accept batteries for recycling. RE’LEM is a non-profit organisation which has put together all the collection points in one location. To find one nearest to you, select ‘Budapest’ under the ‘Megye’ category, and then select your district from the ‘Település/kerület’ drop-down menu.

Electronic waste is accepted by various non-profit groups and dedicated electronics stores around the city, such as Elektrowaste.hu, E-hulladek.com and Electro-coord.hu. 

Waste collection yards (recycling and rubbish)

There are currently 17 waste collection yards in Budapest, where locals can dispose of large-scale waste throughout the year. Addresses and opening hours are listed online.

It is here that you can dispose of certain types of hazardous waste that require special treatment, such as:
-batteries
-electronic waste (computers, televisions, monitors, mobile phones)
-used oil and its packaging (car oil, cooking oil, etc)
-solar panels (only in residential quantities ie 2-3 panels)
-styrofoam
-electrical waste (refrigerators, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, DIY machinery, garden machinery)
-fluorescent lamps, light bulbs

Additional landfill information:
-Due to daily cleaning, waste can be brought into the waste yard up to half an hour before closing.
-Services of the waste yards are free of charge for residents of Budapest, and only up to the specified quantitative limit (150kg).
-The disposal of liquid hazardous waste (ie paint waste, paint thinner, etc) can only be accommodated up to a maximum weight limit of 30kg.

Green waste

Budapest collects green waste once a week, with specific times listed for each district, which can be viewed online. Those wishing to dispose of green waste should put their green waste bags in front of the property in a clearly visible spot no later than 5am on the day of delivery valid for your area.

To have green waste taken away, it must be placed in a dedicated bag (Erti Zöldhulladékgyűjtő-Zsák) bearing the logo of FKF Nonprofit Zrt. These bags are bio-degradable, and should be used as soon as possible after purchase due to their short shelf life.
 
*If waste collectors find household waste or other inappropriate material in the green waste bag, they will not be collected.

Where to buy the biodegradable bags?

Many supermarkets, such as Auchun, SPAR, OBI, etc, sell the bags. They can also be purchased at the following locations:

-FKF customer service office in Pest (cash-only)
IX. Ecseri út 8-12

-FKF customer service centre in Buda (card payment possible)
II. Fő utca 47

-In residential waste yards (cash-only)
See a list of locations here.

What can go in the bags?

-Foliage
-Mowing clippings
-Pruning and thin twigs

*Thicker tree branches can tear the bags, and should be set next to the bags for take-away instead. These include any branches thicker than 10cm in diameter. They should be cut into smaller pieces and bundled together.

Anyone with larger amounts of green waste may arrange a private take-away with options of 4m3, 6m3 and 8m3 containers, for a separate fee. More information can be found here (in Hungarian).

To order private green waste disposal: 
-in person – there are three Customer Service Points whose addresses and opening hours can be found here
-in writing – fkfzrt@fkf.hu
-by phone – 06 1 459 6700
-online

Large-scale waste disposal – Lomtalanítás

Newcomers to Budapest can all relate to the seemingly surreal experience of walking out of their door one day and seeing the streets filled with furniture, debris, old lamps, piles of clothes and nearly everything else imaginable under the sun. Locals don’t seem phased in the slightest, and that’s because this is, in fact, a yearly occurrence and dutifully organised across the city. This is lomtalanítás, the one day a year when each district is able to dispose of large-scale waste generated by households.

Members of each district will be informed in advance of the exact date of collection day, and FKT updates their website with this information.

What can be placed in front of the house when disposing?

-large-scale waste which has become unnecessary in the household, which due to its size cannot be put out as rubbish
-furniture
-mattresses, carpets, suitcases
-large-scale sports equipment (ie skis)
-kids' baths

How to participate?

Place your waste in a public area in front of your house which is easily accessible for the waste collecting vehicles, but does not obstruct pedestrian, car or bicycle traffic.

Recycle your unwanted items instead

KFK provides a free opportunity to donate objects and furniture which are redundant in your home, but can still be used for others.

These can include:
-baby equipment
-toys
-sports equipment
-furniture
-books
-kitchen equipment
-home furnishings, etc

Gross storage rates (depending on size): 

-100 HUF: books, CDs, DVDs, small kitchenware, small plush toys
-300 HUF: other children's toys, medium bags, decorations, board games, small vases
-500 HUF: bags, small sporting goods
-1,000 HUF: chairs, small furniture, bedside table
-3,000 HUF: tables, wardrobes, some sofas, armchairs, beds
-5,000 HUF: single beds, sofas
-7,000 HUF: utility furniture (single beds, wardrobes)
-10,000 HUF complete sofas, kitchen furniture, living-room furniture, double beds

More information on the Reuse Centres here (in Hungarian).

Hazardous waste

Certain waste can only be disposed of in particular landfills and require special treatment. These include:

Construction and demolition waste 
-XVIII. Jegenye fasor 15. - hulladékudvar
-XV. Károlyi Sándor út 166.- hulladékudvar
-XXII. Nagytétényi út 335.- hulladékudvar

Passenger car tyres
-XV. Károlyi Sándor út 166.- hulladékudvar
-XXII. Nagytétényi út 335.- hulladékudvar

Waste paint and containers
-XXII. Nagytétényi út 335.- hulladékudvar
-XV. Károlyi Sándor út 166 - hulladékudvar

* Temporarily, the Csömöri út waste yard maybe used without prior appointment.

A detailed list of what can be disposed of where is available here (in Hungarian).