Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Question / information:
Solution:
Rain edge of the dustbin and compatibility
It is important that the rain edge of the waste garbage can (MGB) is flat around the garbage can. If the rain edge has bulges or depressions, this prevents the rubber seal from being able to form a really tight seal. Such garbage cans are incompatible. Examples of incompatibilities would be the ProWave series from SSI Schäfer 60 to 120l or the SULO Citybac (120l and 240l) - however, both manufacturers also have garbage cans that are compatible, so it is important to pay close attention to the rain edge.
Correctly lock the filter cap after filter activation!
It is important to lock the filter cap correctly after activating the filter material so that it cannot fall into the refuse collection vehicle during the emptying process. The cap audibly clicks into place when correctly locked. How to do this can be seen in the video on filter activation on this page.
Can an organic waste garbage can with an organic filter lid also be placed indoors?
Yes, an organic waste bin with an biofilter lid is completely odorless and can also have an indoor location. Of course, odors will escape briefly when the lid is opened.
Can maggot infestation occur despite the bio-filter lid?
Yes, maggot infestation can occur. If the organic waste is in the organic waste bin, no flies have a chance to lay their eggs in the organic waste garbage can. The bio-filter lid seals the bin completely (odor-)tight. BUT: If food waste is left unsealed for a long time, for example after eating or barbecuing, flies will have already laid their eggs before the organic waste reaches the organic waste garbage can.
It is therefore important to ensure that food waste is placed in a pre-sorter for pre-collection immediately to prevent flies from laying eggs.
In any case, the bio-filter lid massively reduces maggot infestation, as flies do not have the opportunity to enter the organic waste garbage can itself. If the user cooperates and quickly collects the organic waste in the household so that it is inaccessible to flies, the garbage can remains maggot-free.
Important information for pet owners and possible maggot infestation
Dog and cat owners in particular often have maggot infestations in their organic waste bin despite the organic filter lid.
As dog or cat food is often left open in the food bowls for a long time, flies have long since laid eggs before the leftovers are disposed of. Naturally, maggots hatch from these eggs despite the organic filter lid.
It is therefore advisable to wrap leftover food with plenty of newspaper or seal it tightly in a compostable paper bag so that the maggots at least cannot roam freely in thewaste binn.
Can water get through the filter into the organic waste bin?
Yes, water can enter the organic waste garbage can during days of continuous rain. However, these events are very rare, as days of continuous rain are the exception rather than the rule in Germany due to climate change. In heavy continuous rain, water can enter the organic waste garbage can through the air holes in the filter.
Is the water in the organic waste garbage can a problem? No. Even if a few 100 ml should collect in the organic waste garbage can in extreme cases, the water is not a problem at all. In any case, organic waste garbage cans with an organic filter lid do not need to be kept as dry as normal organic waste bins. Organic waste itself has a moisture content of 60 to 80%. Even in normal organic waste garbage cans, liters of water can therefore settle at the bottom. An organic waste garbage can with an organic filter lid, which seals the garbage can odor-tight, always accumulates moisture and condensation will also form on the lid. This is actually positive, as the humid climate in an organic waste bin with an organic filter lid means that fungal spores are bound to the organic waste and are not inhaled when the lid is opened. The discharge of mold fungi in an organic waste garbage can with a bio-filter lid corresponds to normal room air. This is particularly beneficial for allergy sufferers and asthmatics.
Tips on putting organic waste in the organic waste bin as dry as possible always refer to an organic waste garbage can without an organic filter lid. This should at least counteract the formation of odors. Owners of an organic waste garbage can with an organic filter lid do not need to pay attention to this.
Cracked rubber seal
If the rubber seal on the filter lid is brittle or cracked, the function of the bio-filter lid is no longer 100% guaranteed, as odors can escape and flies can lay eggs. In this case, the bio-filter cover must be replaced. A damaged circumferential seal alone is not as important as the area of the seal that rests on the rain edge of the organic waste garbage can. If only the outer seal is slightly damaged, the function of the biofilter lid can still be guaranteed if the inner seal seals tightly on the rain edge.
How can a brittle or cracked rubber seal occur?
Extreme UV exposure can cause the rubber seal to become brittle after a few years. However, the process is accelerated above all by aggressive cleaning agents, which severely attack the elastic rubber seal. Glass cleaners, for example, must not be used on the rubber seal. It is best to clean with lukewarm water and, if cleaning agents are used, use neutral cleaning agents.
Can the filter dry out and needs to be reactivated?
Yes, during longer dry periods and organic waste with a low moisture content (e.g. dried grass clippings), the filter can dry out. In organic waste garbage cans with a lot of moist food waste, the biofilter draws sufficient moisture from the organic waste garbage can itself. If the filter dries out, it can simply be reactivated with a little water to instructions.
Special feature of the bio-filter lid for 240 l organic waste bins
The bio-filter lid for the 240 l organic waste bins has a special feature: In the first few days after installation, the seal does not lie flat on the body of the garbage can - in other words, the odor can actually escape.
In direct sunlight, the lid adapts to the respective body within a very short time and then closes tightly. After installation, the filter material should be activated quickly. The additional weight of the water in the filter helps it to adapt quickly.
What must be taken into account when cleaning the filter lid?
Please do not use any aggressive cleaners, disinfectants (these damage the highly concentrated good microorganisms in the biofilter) or alcohol-based cleaners (e.g. Frosch glass cleaner, etc.) to clean the filter lid and especially the seal, as these cleaners damage the seal and cause it to become porous. Neutral cleaners or even cleaning with a Kärcher pressure cleaner, on the other hand, are completely unproblematic.
