Housing maintenance, collect, sort and recycle

Housing maintenance in Luxembourg

Obligations of owners and tenants

Maintaining your home is an obligation in Luxembourg, whether you own or rent. The tenant is responsible for any minor repairs required on a day-to-day basis. On the other hand, the landlord must provide accommodation that is in good condition and sanitary. All major repairs are the responsibility of the owner.

The tenant’s obligation to maintain the property

In addition to paying the rent on time, the tenant is responsible for the daily maintenance of the apartment. In particular, he has to check that locks are working properly and change burnt-out bulbs. He or she must also arrange for the boiler to be serviced annually by an authorized service provider.

At the end of the lease, the tenant must leave the property clean and unused. This is particularly the case for paints, for which a normal “wear and tear” is tolerated. However, any holes in the walls, floors or other damage must have been repaired. This means that decorating work or alterations to the property must be authorized by the owner beforehand.

When the tenant vacates the premises, the landlord can demand that the property be returned in exactly the same condition as it was when he moved in. See our instructions for renting in Luxembourg.

In case of disagreement, the landlord can withhold the security deposit requested at the beginning of the lease. Numerous disputes are brought before the courts each year.

Landlord’s obligation to maintain rented accommodation

Landlords must provide their tenants with sanitary accommodation that is in good working order and does not endanger the safety or health of the occupants. Any work to bring the system up to standard, faulty parts or damage caused by an incident are the responsibility of the customer.

Structural work, involving significant expenses, is normally the responsibility of the owner. However, agreements can be negotiated between the two parties, in return for a rent rebate for example.

Hiring of cleaning staff

To maintain your home, you can hire cleaning staff directly. Luxembourg labor laws must be complied with, and an employment contract must be signed between the employer and the household staff.

Specialized cleaning and maintenance companies are also available. They will be in charge of all administrative matters relating to the hiring of the employee, and will invoice the beneficiary household for the services provided. It is also possible to work with companies specializing in personal services.

Clearance of sidewalks

In the event of frost or snow, occupants of a building or house must clear clogged or frozen sidewalks in front of their building. Even if the sidewalks belong to the local authority, residents must clear a 1 m wide strip to allow pedestrian traffic. They must also spread a material to prevent frost and therefore slipping. Coarse anti-freeze salt is easily available in supermarkets or gas stations in winter.

In the event of a fall in front of your home, you’ll need to prove that you’ve taken the necessary steps to clean up the sidewalks and prevent falls. In the event of an accident, your liability insurance may be put into play. Remember to be well insured!

Garbage collection and color of garbage cans in Luxembourg

You have household waste to dispose of and garbage cans to empty. Do you want to store in your garage or cellar? You have useless objects to recycle? In Luxembourg, waste collection and recycling are managed by the municipalities.

At a time when we are more and more vigilant to preserve our planet, here is a little reminder to sort your waste correctly. Several different colored garbage cans are at your disposal. How to find your way around?

Waste collection – Hygiene service

When you register as a resident , your local authority will offer you a number of options. garbage cans and other specific containers. A company appointed by the municipality will periodically collect these containers. on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly schedule. Your local council will send you this schedule on a regular basis.

Your household waste, green waste, glass bottles, paper and newspapers will also be collected regularly for a fee from your municipality. The fee is either fixed or calculated according to the number of times you use the service.

For the City of Luxembourg, you can consult the garbage collection tours by street on this link.

Grey garbage can: household waste

The grey garbage can is intended to collect all your residual non-recyclable household waste. The company in charge will collect your waste regularly and then incinerate it.

Used tissues and sopalins are to be disposed of in this grey garbage can. This is also the case for cooking paper and plastic packaging refused in the blue bag.
Don’t put metal or hazardous materials in your grey garbage can. You can drop them off at the waste disposal center. The same applies to car batteries, printer toner, paint cans, etc. Ask your local council for more information.
Shopping centers collect batteries, used light bulbs and other waste in special containers.

Blue garbage can and blue bags: paper, plastic, recyclable waste and packaging

Recycling your recyclable waste

The blue garbage can is designed to hold your clean paper and cardboard waste for recycling. Don’t throw away pizza boxes, baking paper, sales receipts, greasy, dirty, waxed or laminated paper.

On the other hand, you can put old newspapers or magazines, leaflets, school notebooks, etc. in the blue garbage can. Even if you can put books in the blue bin, think of places where you can exchange them, such as book cupboards, or free exchange areas at recycling centers. This will give your books a second life.

Blue PMC bags (Valorlux) are for recycling packaging waste. You can find them free of charge from your communal administration. The Bierger Center puts the City of Luxembourg in charge, and they are available free of charge to residents at the Bierger-Center, the Hôtel de Ville, the “Badanstalt”, the Bonnevoie municipal swimming pool, the recycling center and the Service d’Hygiène for the City of Luxembourg.

The blue bags are intended to receive the packaging known as PMC, i.e. plastic bottles and flasks, metal packaging such as cans and beverage cartons.

You can now add plastic films and bags, plastic pots, trays and cups.
Be careful not to throw away black or multi-layered plastics such as coffee packets, chips or pet food. Styropor or polystyrene is also prohibited. You should also not throw away medication blister packs or cardboard.

Valorlux “My Blue Bag” application

Valorlux provides a free My Blue Bag app on sorting techniques. Find out more, or you will be refused pickup and receive a red penalty tag. You will be forced to re-sort your garbage and suffer a postponement of pickup.

The Valorlux app informs you of the collection dates for your blue recycling bags in your commune of residence. “Mon Sac Bleu” also gives you the keys to recycling in compliance with Luxembourg regulations. You’ll also find a few tips to prevent your bags from flying away, for example. Enough to sort in the best conditions and avoid fines!
The application also allows you to find out about the many sorting parks in Luxembourg. It gives you all their contact information as well as their opening hours. It even includes a GPS system to help you get there easily, based on your location in real time!

Would you like to get rid of some waste on your way to the shops? “Mon Sac Bleu” also informs you about the various RE-BOX collection centers located in certain shopping centers in Luxembourg. A way to get rid of your waste quickly and easily!

Green garbage can for glass

The green garbage can in Luxembourg is intended to collect glass only, such as empty glass bottles. Remember to remove the caps, lids or metal or plastic sleeves. Please note that in some communes, the glass garbage can is a different color.

All other types of glass, such as windowpanes and mirrors, as well as earthenware and ceramic dishes, light bulbs and full bottles, must not be disposed of in this way. Bulbs can be disposed of in the recycling areas of shopping malls.

Brown or green garbage can: organic and biodegradable waste – Biomüll

Collected biodegradable waste is a renewable energy resource, as it is converted into energy. Energy suppliers now offer energy from Biomüll. In return for an annual fee, local authorities provide specific containers for the collection of bio-waste. Ask your local municipality for more information.

The brown garbage can in Luxembourg, green in other communes, collects all your kitchen waste. You can dispose of food scraps, spoiled food, tea bags, coffee grounds, … Garden waste excluding wood, flowers (excluding rose bushes), plants, grass, small animal droppings can also be deposited there. Biodegradable bags can also be put in.

On the other hand, all wooden garden waste, plant soil, grease and other oils, ashes, coal, cigarette butts, as well as cat litter or baby diapers cannot be thrown in.

Do you have a garden? Why not place your own composter there? You can use the compost created for your plants and flowers.

Would you like to have a garden to grow your own vegetables? See community gardens

Bulky objects

Bulky items can be picked up directly by appointment. Ask your local authorities for more information. After having affixed a label given to you at the time of the appointment, you will be able to deposit the bulky objects directly in front of your home. They will be removed at the agreed time.

Waste and recycling centers

Free access to your local recycling center

Communes also offer their residents free waste and recycling centers. Residents can take their recyclable or toxic waste there, if they don’t have all the garbage cans listed above.
Access to the recycling centers is free of charge and reserved to the residents of the municipality. Please contact your local municipality for more information.

Many categories of recyclable waste are collected in the municipal recycling centers: plastic, glass, cardboard, wood, … Each material has its own place in the various bins or receptacles available.

Toxic waste is also collected at waste collection centers and properly disposed of.

Recycling and second life corner

In addition, you’ll find a corner in these waste centers where you can drop off your unwanted items.
In this way, you leave them available to others who might be interested in giving them a second life. You can drop off toys, books, children’s clothes and decorative items that you no longer need, and which are in good enough condition not to be discarded. This is a good idea to recycle everything. Who knows? Maybe you yourself will find good deals to which you can give a second life?

The Recycling Centre of the City of Luxembourg is located at 48 Rue d’Arlon in Luxembourg-Belair. It is also accessible to residents of the municipality of Strassen.

Circular economy in Luxembourg

Luxembourg’s position on recycling

Until recently, Luxembourg was a poor performer when it came to recycling plastic waste. According to a 2017 Eurostat study, Luxembourg ranked 21st out of 28 EU countries when it came to recycling plastic waste. The average recycling rate in Luxembourg was 33%, compared with a European average of 42%.

On average, a Luxembourg resident throws away almost 800 kg of waste per year, including 52 kg of plastic waste! The Luxembourg government’s objective is therefore to limit the use of plastic packaging over the next few years. The target of 40 bags per person per year by 2025, compared with the current 140, shows the scale of the challenge. The distribution of single-use plastic bags in supermarkets and other retail outlets is now prohibited.

Measures taken in Luxembourg to limit waste

The new Waste Act 2022 provides for the following measures to be gradually implemented by January 1, 2025:

Waste reduction in supermarkets

• No more free bags distributed. Remember to bring your Valorlux Ecobag or eco-bags.
• Beverage department: introduction of a deposit for beverages
• Fruit and vegetable department: no more plastic-wrapped fruits and vegetables for quantities under 1.5 kg. Get yourself some fabric Superbags.
• Space dedicated to the collection of packaging at the checkout

Bring large eco-responsible bagsto do your shopping . You can buy them directly at the supermarket checkout. They will be replaced for life if needed. Don’t forget the small reusable cloth bag for your fruits and vegetables.

Measures to take at home

• To limit the amount of waste generated by leaflet distribution, residents are asked to indicate on their letterboxes their explicit agreement to the deposit of leaflets. Leaflets left on the cars are not allowed.
• Recycling centers are now resource centers for the re-use of various items, particularly electrical and electronic appliances.
• When renovating or building, the owner is now responsible for sorting the various types of waste separately.