German · Mülltrennung
You want to take an old wardrobe to the recycling centre: what to say in German
You want to take an old wardrobe to the recycling centre.
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How it's done. At a Wertstoffhof (recycling centre) you hand in bulky items, old furniture and electronics; small amounts are usually free, and sometimes they ask for an ID or proof of residence.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
Cheat sheet for your visit
The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
YOU START
Entschuldigung, ich habe einen alten Schrank. Kann ich ihn auf dem Wertstoffhof abgeben?
Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, eekh KHAH-beh IGH-nayn AHL-tayn shrahnk. Kahn eekh een owf dem VEHRTS-tof-khof AHB-geh-bayn?
Excuse me, I have an old wardrobe. Can I take it to the recycling centre?
Or say:Entschuldigung, wo kann ich alte Möbel entsorgen?
Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, voh kahn eekh AHL-teh MYOH-bel aynt-ZOR-gayn?
THEY SAY
Ja, der Wertstoffhof ist in der Industriestraße. Dort nehmen sie Möbel und Elektrogeräte an.Yah, dehr VEHRTS-tof-khof eest een dehr een-doos-TREES-truh-seh. Dort NEH-mayn zee MYOH-bel oont eh-LEK-troh-geh-reh-teh ahn.
Yes, the recycling centre is in the Industriestraße. They accept furniture and electrical appliances there.
They might also say:
Ja, auf dem Wertstoffhof nehmen sie Sperrmüll an.
Yah, owf dem VEHRTS-tof-khof NEH-mayn zee SHPEHR-myool ahn.
Yes, they accept bulky waste at the recycling centre.
2
YOU REPLY
Muss ich dafür etwas bezahlen?
Moos eekh duh-FYOOR EH-tvuhs beh-TSAH-layn?
Do I have to pay anything for that?
THEY SAY
Kleine Mengen sind meistens kostenlos. Bei großen Mengen zahlen Sie eine Gebühr.KLIGH-neh MAYN-gayn zeent MIGHS-tayns KOS-tayn-los. Bigh GROH-sayn MAYN-gayn TSAH-layn zee IGH-neh geh-BYOOR.
Small amounts are usually free. For large amounts you pay a fee.
3
YOU REPLY
Brauche ich einen Ausweis?
BROW-kheh eekh IGH-nayn OW-svighs?
Do I need ID?
THEY SAY
Ja, bringen Sie bitte einen Ausweis mit. Manchmal fragen sie nach dem Wohnort.Yah, BREEN-gayn zee BEE-teh IGH-nayn OW-svighs meet. MAHNKH-muhl FRAH-gayn zee nahkh dem VOH-nort.
Yes, please bring ID. Sometimes they ask for your place of residence.
4
YOU FINISH
Gut, dann fahre ich am Samstag hin. Danke!
Goot, dahn FAH-reh eekh ahm ZAHMS-tuhk kheen. DAHN-keh!
Good, then I'll go there on Saturday. Thanks!
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “German for life in Germany”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
habe
KHAH-beh
verb
I have
alten
AHL-tayn
adjective
old
Schrank
shrahnk
noun
wardrobe, cupboard
Kann
Kahn
verb
can
Wertstoffhof
VEHRTS-tof-khof
noun
recycling centre
abgeben
AHB-geh-bayn
verb
to hand in
48 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
KYOH-nayn zee dahs BEE-teh vee-dehr-KHOH-layn?
Can you repeat that, please?
Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen?
KYOH-nayn zee BEE-teh LAHNG-zuh-muh SHPREH-khayn?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
Was bedeutet das?
Vahs beh-DOY-tet dahs?
What does this mean?
Similar situations
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