Waste sorting practices in the Czech Republic

Waste sorting in the Czech Republic involves both household activities and outdoor events, with approximately three-quarters of the population utilizing color-coded containers for materials like paper, plastic, and glass. These materials serve as secondary raw materials, such as recycled paper for insulation or plastics for clothing, often processed through automated sorting lines.

In the city of Česká Lípa, a door-to-door waste sorting system has demonstrated measurable success. Launched on October 1, 2025, and expanded to affiliated municipalities in June 2026, the program allows residents of family and small apartment houses to request specific bins for multi-commodity waste, paper, or bio-waste. Data from the first half of 2026 showed an increase of over 350 tons of correctly sorted paper, plastic, and organic waste compared to the previous year, alongside a decrease in mixed municipal waste. Currently, approximately half of the 3,500 eligible addresses have joined the program. To manage costs and limit landfill use, the city has adjusted collection frequencies, reducing mixed waste pickup to once every 14 days.

Other Czech municipalities report varying results. In Nový Jičín, public analysis indicated that residents in housing estates could have sorted 67 percent of their mixed waste, while those in family houses could have sorted 62 percent. While textile and food waste sorting has improved in Nový Jičín since 2020, the city noted a decline in glass and metal recycling. To manage rising expenses, Nový Jičín increased landfill fees from 500 CZK to 1,600 CZK per ton after reaching its annual limit.