Rubbish?!

– powered by Holding Graz Waste Management Department

An upcycling exhibition for waste experts aged 8+

It’s all rubbish! Is that so? Discover that there is still an important recyclable material in almost any waste. As a waste expert, you can help to avoid waste, reuse things or recycle them properly! Find out what belongs in which waste bin and dispose of your worries. You help to protect the environment and do not mess it up, because with the right tools you can make new, useful things from supposed waste!

Emotional waste

Speech text about storing emotional waste

What is being stored here? Some of these things are actually rubbish. Yet someone has kept them. What do you think could be the reason for this? Other things actually still work but are so old that they are no longer used today. Does that mean they are rubbish?

Speech text about getting rid of emotional waste

Here you can finally get rid of it! Whether it’s homework, worries or arguments – just talk to me about everything that’s bothering you and get rid of your rubbish!

The separate-properly-challenge

How is this waste disposed of?

Broken tile
Where is the right place for a broken tile? In the “bulky waste” bin? Then stand on the rough surface on the left. Or does it belong in the “ceramics” collection bin? Then stand on the smooth surface in the centre. Or to “grey construction waste”? Then stand on the soft surface on the right. Yes, tiles belong in the “ceramics” collection bin! If you were right, you can now take a sash!

Broken CD
Where is the right place for a broken CD? In the “CD jewel cases” collection bin? Then stand on the rough surface on the left. Or does it belong in the “CDs, DVDs, Blu-Rays” collection bin? Then stand on the smooth surface in the centre. Or does it belong in the “plastic hollow bodies / canisters smaller than 5 litres” bin? Then stand on the soft surface on the right. Yes, CDs belong in the “CDs, DVDs, Blu-Rays” collection bin! If you were right, you can now take a sash!

CD jewel case
Where is the right place for the CD jewel case? In the “CD jewel cases” collection bin? Then stand on the rough surface on the left. Or does it belong in the “CDs, DVDs, Blu-Rays” collection bin? Then stand on the smooth surface in the centre. Or does it belong in the “plastic hollow bodies / canisters smaller than 5 litres” bin? Then stand on the soft surface on the right. Yes, of course, the CD jewel case belongs in the “CD jewel cases” collection bin! If you were right, you can now take a sash!

Damaged carped
Where is the right place for the damaged carpet? In the “bulky waste” collection bin? Then stand on the rough surface on the left. Or does it belong in the “red construction waste” collection bin? Then stand on the smooth surface in the centre. Or in the “carpets” collection bin? Then stand on the soft surface on the right. Yes, of course, the old carpet belongs in the “carpets” collection bin! If you were right, you can now take a sash!

Coffee capsule
Where is the right place for this coffee capsule? In the “metal packaging” collection bin? Then stand on the rough surface on the left. Or does it belong in the “Nespresso capsules” collection bin? Then stand on the smooth surface in the centre. Or does it belong in the “plastic packaging film” bin? Then stand on the soft surface on the right. Yes, of course, the coffee capsule belongs in the “Nespresso capsules” collection bin! If you were right, you can now take a sash!

Crate
Where is the right place for this crate? In the “wood packaging” collection bin? Then stand on the rough surface on the left. Or does it belong in the “tree and shrub cuttings” collection bin? Then stand on the smooth surface in the centre. Or in the “waste wood for thermal recycling” bin? Then stand on the soft surface on the right. Yes, the crate belongs in the “wood packaging” collection bin! If you were right, you can now take a sash!

Polystyrene packaging
Where is the right place for this polystyrene packaging? In the “plastic packaging” collection bin? Then stand on the rough surface on the left. Or does it belong in the “polystyrene packaging” collection bin? Then stand on the smooth surface in the centre. Or in the “PVC waste” bin? Then stand on the soft surface on the right. Yes, the polystyrene packaging belongs in the “polystyrene packaging” collection bin! If you were right, you can now take a sash!

Plastic hollow body
Where is the right place for this plastic hollow body? In the “plastic packaging” collection bin? Then stand on the rough surface on the left. Or does it belong in the “plastic hollow bodies smaller than 5 litres” collection bin? Then stand on the smooth surface in the centre. Or does it belong in the “plastic hollow bodies larger than 5 litres” bin? Then stand on the soft surface on the right. Yes, this plastic hollow body belongs in the collection bin “hollow plastic bodies smaller than 5 litres”! If you were right, you can now take a sash!

Plastic hollow body
Where is the right place for this plastic hollow body? In the “plastic packaging” collection bin? Then stand on the rough surface on the left. Or does it belong in the “plastic hollow bodies smaller than 5 litres” collection bin? Then stand on the smooth surface in the centre. Or does in belong in the “plastic hollow bodies larger than 5 litres” collection bin? Then stand on the soft surface on the right. Yes, this plastic hollow body belongs in the “plastic hollow bodies larger than 5 litres” collection bin! If you were right, you can now take a sash!

Game
What is the right place for this game? The “re-use zone”? Then stand on the rough surface on the left. Or does it belong in the “waste paper” collection bin? Then stand on the smooth surface in the centre. Or in the “cardboard packaging” bin? Then stand on the soft surface on the right. Yes, this game is still perfectly fine. It would be a shame to throw it away. It belongs in the “re-use zone”. That way it can still be used. If you were right, you can now take a sash!

Packaging film
Where is the right place for this packaging film? In the “plastic packaging film” collection bin? Then stand on the rough surface on the left. Or does it belong in the “plastic packaging” collection bin? Then stand on the smooth surface in the centre. Or does it belong in the “polystyrene packaging” bin? Then stand on the soft surface on the right. Yes, this packaging film belongs in the “plastic packaging film” collection bin! If you were right, you can now take a sash!

Pipe
Where is the right place for this pipe? In the “construction waste” collection bin? Then stand on the rough surface on the left. Or does it belong in the “bulky waste” collection bin? Then stand on the smooth surface in the centre. Or in the “copper” collection bin? Then stand on the soft surface on the right. Yes, this pipe belongs in the “copper” collection bin! If you were right, you can now take a sash!

Can
Where is the right place for this can? In the “Nirosta (stainless steel)” collection bin? Then stand on the rough surface on the left. Or does it belong in the “metal packaging” collection bin? Then stand on the smooth surface in the centre. Or in the “mixed scrap iron” bin? Then stand on the soft surface on the right. Yes, this tin belongs in the “metal packaging” collection bin! If you were right, you can now take a sash!

Glass
Where is the right place for this glass? In the “clear glass packaging” collection bin? Then stand on the rough surface on the left. Or does it belong in the “coloured glass packaging” collection bin? Then stand on the smooth surface in the centre. Or in the “flat glass” bin? Then stand on the soft surface on the right. Yes, this glass belongs in the “coloured glass packaging” collection bin! If you were right, you can now take a sash!

Glass
Where is the right place for this glass? In the “clear glass packaging” collection bin? Then stand on the rough surface on the left. Or does it belong in the “coloured glass packaging” collection bin? Then stand on the smooth surface in the centre. Or in the “flat glass” bin? Then stand on the soft surface on the right. Yes, this glass belongs in the “clear glass packaging” collection bin! If you were right, you can now take a sash!

Sieve
Where is the right place for this sieve? In the “Nirosta (stainless steel)” collection bin? Then stand on the rough surface on the left. Or does it belong in the “metal packaging” collection bin? Then stand on the smooth surface in the centre. Or in the “mixed scrap iron” bin? Then stand on the soft surface on the right. Yes, this sieve belongs in the “mixed scrap iron” collection bin! If you were right, you can now take a sash!

Brick
Where is the right place for this brick? In the “red construction waste” collection bin? Then stand on the rough surface on the left. Or does it belong in the “construction residues” collection bin? Then stand on the smooth surface in the centre. Or in the “grey construction waste” bin? Then stand on the soft surface on the right. Yes, this brick belongs in the “red construction waste” collection bin! If you were right, you can now take a sash!

Cable
Where is the right place for this cable? In the “small electrical appliances” collection bin? Then stand on the rough surface on the left. Or does it belong in the “appliance batteries” collection bin? Then stand on the smooth surface in the centre. Or in the “cables” collection bin? Then stand on the soft surface on the right. Yes, this cable belongs in the “cables” collection bin! If you were right, you can now take a sash!

Battery
Where is the right place for this battery? In the “small electrical appliances” collection bin? Then stand on the rough surface on the left. Or does it belong in the “appliance batteries” collection bin? Then stand on the smooth surface in the centre. Or in the “lithium batteries” bin? Then stand on the soft surface on the right. Yes, this battery belongs in the “appliance batteries” collection bin! If you were right, you can now take a sash!

Broken mobile phone
Where is the right place for this broken mobile phone? In the “small electrical appliances” collection bin? Then stand on the rough surface on the left. Or does it belong in the “display devices” collection bin? Then stand on the smooth surface in the centre. Or does it belong in the “large electrical appliances” collection bin? Then stand on the soft surface on the right. Yes, this mobile phone belongs in the “small electrical appliances” collection bin! If you were right, you can now take a sash!

Broken CD player
Where is the right place for this broken CD player? In the “small electrical appliances” collection bin? Then stand on the rough surface on the left. Or does it belong in the “display devices” collection bin? Then stand on the smooth surface in the centre. Or does it belong in the “large electrical appliances” bin? Then stand on the soft surface on the right. Yes, this CD player belongs in the “small electrical appliances” collection bin! If you were right, you can now take a sash!

Broken car tyre
Where is the right place for this broken car tyre? In the “tyres with rims” collection bin? Then stand on the rough surface on the left. Or does it belong in the “bulky waste” collection bin? Then stand on the smooth surface in the centre. Or in the “tyres without rims” collection bin? Then stand on the soft surface on the right. Yes, this tyre belongs in the “tyres without rims” collection bin! If you were right, you can now take a sash!

Broken chair
Where is the right place for this broken chair? In the “waste wood for thermal recycling” collection bin? Then stand on the rough surface on the left. Or does it belong in the “waste wood for material recycling” collection bin? Then stand on the smooth surface in the centre. Or in the “wood packaging” bin? Then stand on the soft surface on the right. Yes, this chair belongs in the “waste wood for material recycling” collection bin! If you were right, you can now take a sash!

Branches
Where is the right place for these branches? In the “waste wood for thermal recycling” collection bin? Then stand on the rough surface on the left. Or do they belong in the “waste wood for material recycling” collection bin? Then stand on the smooth surface in the centre. Or in the “tree and shrub cuttings” collection bin? Then stand on the soft surface on the right. Yes, these branches belong in the “tree and shrub cuttings” collection bin! If you were right, you can now take a sash!

Workshop area

Discover that there is still an important resource in almost every piece of waste. Make new, useful things from supposed waste using the right tools! Look around and be inspired!

If you have any questions, please ask a member of the FRida & freD team.

You are welcome to take your finished workpieces home with you.

When upcycling, you use tools that are suitable for children aged eight and above. Remember to protect your hands, feet, eyes and ears when working with tools. It is better to leave delicate clothing in the cloakroom, as we accept no liability for this.

Dear educators,
When upcycling, the children use tools that are suitable for children aged eight and above. Equipment to protect hands, feet, eyes and ears is provided. Please leave delicate clothing in the cloakroom, as we accept no liability for this. Thank you!

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Waste creature waste paper

The wastepaper creature’s spoken text

Yes, bring it on: old newspapers in the bin with the RED lid! … Paper! Paper, please! … Yes, boxes in here too! But please flatten them! … Eww, what?! No, photos do not belong here! … The red bin wants paper! But only clean paper! You can go somewhere else with this dirty pizza box! … Paper, please! … Yuck, yuck! A handkerchief! Get rid of it! Only paper is allowed in here: newspapers, leaflets, exercise books! Give them to me! … Paper, paper!

Speech text crankcase waste paper

To call what ends up in the waste paper bin “rubbish” is, in a way, a disgrace! More than 8 out of 10 sheets of paper that are collected in this bin are made into new paper. Yes, you heard that right: old paper is turned into new paper! This is how it works: the old paper is broken down into paper fibres in an agitator. The fibres obtained are processed into large paper webs. These can then be used to make cardboard boxes, exercise books or newsprint. Paper can be turned into new paper 5 to 7 times. So, you see: waste paper is more than just waste!

Waste creature lightweight packaging

The lightweight packaging creature’s spoken text

Lightweight packaging, plastic packaging in the bin with the YELLOW lid or in the YELLOW BAG! Ketchup packaging, yes, that’s right here! Styrofoam packaging – bring it on! Plastic bottles – please put them in the yellow bin! Psst! Do you have a yoghurt pot? A milk carton? Or a plastic film? Then throw it in here! This old watering can is in the wrong place! And I don’t want the plastic toys either!

Speech text puzzle lightweight packaging

The children insert the puzzle pieces and listen to the corresponding audio.

1st picture (fixed): Child stretches in bed, yawning.
Audio: Good morning! Get up! A new day begins!

2nd picture (puzzle piece): Child is in the bathroom brushing its teeth.
Audio: It starts early in the morning: as soon as we brush our teeth, we come across it: PLASTIC. Both the toothbrush and the toothbrush tumbler are made of plastic.

3rd picture (puzzle piece): Child sitting at the breakfast table.
Audio: And it continues at breakfast: the packaging of the muesli and the Tetra pack of milk – both contain PLASTIC.

4th picture (puzzle piece): Child gets dressed in the anteroom.
Audio: You might not guess it at first glance, but the school bag, the trainers and even the fleece jacket all contain PLASTIC.

5th picture (fixed): Child is on the way to school.

6th picture (puzzle piece): Child is sitting at school.
Audio: It still bothers us at school: transparent sleeves and exercise book covers are made of PLASTIC.

7th picture (puzzle piece): School snack
Audio: And it continues to haunt us during the break: snack boxes and drinking bottles are made of PLASTIC.

8th picture (puzzle piece): Physical education at school
Audio: We even come across it in PE lessons. This ball was also made from it: PLASTIC.

9th picture (fixed): Lunch

10th picture (puzzle piece): Swimming pool in the afternoon
Audio: There’s so much plastic lying around that it’s almost impossible to list it all: flip-flops, swimming pool air mattresses, water wings, sand toys, water pistols, ice cream packs – all made of PLASTIC.

11th picture (puzzle piece): Child buys a birthday present.
Audio: Ubiquitous, even when playing: PLASTIC.

12th picture (puzzle piece): Child is at home, sitting on the terrace having dinner.
Audio: You never get any peace and quiet from it. Because the chair is also made of it: PLASTIC.

13th picture (puzzle piece): Child draws with felt-tip pens and listens to a radio play on the mobile phone.
Audio: The felt-tip pens, the mobile phone cover, parts of the mobile phone itself and the headphones all contain PLASTIC.

14th picture (puzzle piece): Child taking a shower.
Audio: And just before going to bed, it’s still following us – it’s even hiding in the shower gel in the form of tiny beads: PLASTIC.

15th picture (fixed): Child lying in bed.
Audio: So, you see: plastic surrounds us always and everywhere. It’s light and incredibly durable. That’s practical for us humans at first, but it’s a problem for the environment in the long term. Plastic that is not recycled properly often ends up in the sea. There it forms huge floating carpets of rubbish and breaks down into ever smaller plastic particles, but it never dissolves completely. The smallest plastic particles have already been detected in many animals and also in the human body. The consequences of this are still being researched.
We humans must learn to use plastic only where it really makes sense. Do you have any ideas on how to do this?

Waste creature glass packaging

The glass packaging creature’s spoken text

Clear glaaass packaging, clear glass packaging please! Jam jars, pickle jars! Into the bin with the white lid. Stop! Unscrew the lid first! Juice bottles! Stop! This is coloured glass packaging; green and brown glass must go in the bin with the green lid! NO MISTAKES ARE ALLOWED HERE!!!

Speech text crankcase waste glass

Glass is collected in the waste glass bins – and strictly separated: colourless glass belongs in the clear glass bin; no brown or green glass may end up in it. After all, the glass waste should be turned into new colourless glass. Coloured glass packaging would colour and spoil everything. And that would be a shame, as the waste glass collected here can be used to make new glass. It is sorted in a glass factory and then crushed. A large proportion is then melted down and reprocessed into new glass. So, you see, used glass is not waste, but a recyclable material!

Waste creature organic waste

The organic waste creature’s spoken text

Leaf litter! Apple peels! Vegetable scraps! Everything in the BROWN bin! Small twigs! Food scraps! Banana peels! Give them to me! Oh, but this plastic bag – that’s completely wrong here, it definitely doesn’t belong in the brown bin. What do you say? But it’s made of bioplastic? Still, it’s not right here and must not go in the organic waste! Mouldy oranges? Grass clippings? Coffee grounds? Yes, it all belongs in the brown bin!

This text describes the film in the organic waste bin

Welcome to the organic waste bin! The best of all types of waste is collected here. It is the best because, with the help of many little helpers, the waste is turned into – psst! – valuable soil. The organic waste is composted. And many small animals and micro-organisms get to work to transform, break down and digest the waste. When they have finished, a valuable product is created: compost! Plants love this compost. They like to grow in it and then form new fruit. Organic waste therefore helps to produce your food of tomorrow!

Waste creature residual waste

The residual waste creature’s spoken text

Narrator’s voice:
They are collected in the BLACK bin: the last remnants! Almost everything that doesn’t belong in any other bin is allowed in here. Broken crockery, photos, chewing gum? In the black bin please!

Nappy [interrupts the narrator’s voice]:
For example, I’m just right in the black bin, I’m a nappy! Cat litter! Bones! Everything in here please! Admittedly: it smells a bit in this bin, not to say it stinks…

Cigarette butts:
You have to say that! A full nappy… The odour nuisance here is clearly coming from you!

Nappy:
Me?! At least my odour has a natural origin! You, on the other hand, as a cigarette butt, are the embodiment of a real stench! Even before you landed in here, you were already stinking up everything around you!

Cigarette butt:
What? That’s an outrageous claim!

Narrator’s voice:
Litter, you’re getting off topic! So: almost everything that’s wrong in the other bins, please put it in the black bin!

This text describes a waste incineration plant

It is collected in the BLACK bin: residual waste. Everything that can still be recycled here is sorted out on conveyor belts in the residual waste treatment plant, such as metals and aluminium. What can no longer be recycled is incinerated in special plants. On the one hand, this is a good thing, as the heat generated can be used to heat homes, for example. On the other hand, the waste is not completely gone after incineration. A residue remains – ash and the so-called slag. It is taken to landfill sites and stored there. Incineration also produces toxic smoke. Most of the toxic substances were filtered out, but now these toxic substances have to be stored somewhere. So you see, some residual waste always remains and will never disappear completely!

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Waste creature old textiles

The old textiles creature’s spoken text

T-shirts, jeans, blouses, skirts: over here! Bed linen, curtains, tablecloths! Everything that is clean and wearable: please put it in the GREEN old clothes collection bin! Eww – that single smelly sock is no longer wearable! It’s in the wrong place! Clean textiles feel at home here – put them in the green old clothes collection bin!

Speech texts world map

A T-shirt travels quite a long way in the course of its life! Before it even lands on our retail shelves in Austria, it has already travelled to many countries: the cotton was grown and harvested in the USA. The cotton fibres were spun into yarn in Turkey and this yarn was processed into fabric in Taiwan. The fabric was then dyed in China and a T-shirt was sewn from the fabric in Bangladesh. The T-shirt was then brought to Austria and sold there. Phew!
Now the T-shirt can rest for a while. After having been worn for a long time, it was disposed of properly in the old clothes collection bin. Some of the clothes collected here end up in second-hand shops. Others, like our T-shirt, goes travelling again: it was delivered to a sorting centre in Germany and sorted there. It was then sold with other clothes to East Africa. There it goes to a second-hand market. As you can see, a T-shirt travels quite a long way!

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Waste creature metal packaging

The metal packaging waste creature’s spoken text

So, now you have to look at the date: metal packaging will still be collected in the metal bin until 31 December 2024. Until then: dog food cans, screw tops in the bin with the BLUE lid! Beverage cans, tins, that’s all right here! What is this? I don’t take broken pliers! No, nails don’t belong in this bin either. And watch out!!! From 1 January 2025, the metal bin will be retired. Then it will be replaced by the yellow bin. So please, from then on, take all the metal packaging to the yellow bin!

Speech texts on the dioramas

1st diorama
Until around 1960, horse-drawn carts were used to collect rubbish in Styrian towns. In our diorama we present these horse-drawn carts. They used to transport almost all rubbish.

2nd diorama
In the 1970s, washing machines and rubbish were simply thrown into the forest. We thought that we would make a small forest in which you can also see the roots to show that some of the rubbish had grown into the roots.

3rd diorama
In our diorama, we show that in Graz the collection of used glass began in 1977. We had the idea of placing a glass bottle container with broken bottles in it. We found it particularly challenging to get our hands out of the plaster again.

4th diorama
The waste paper collection started in Graz in 1981 and Koko, Nuno and I made a diorama for it. You can see the waste paper being collected by the refuse lorry. You can carefully move the refuse lorry backwards and forwards. The rubbish is taken to the Resource Park Graz, which in turn processes the waste paper.

5th diorama
In our diorama, we have illustrated the separation of plastic waste. Before 1990, plastic was not collected separately but was thrown in with other types of waste. On one side of our diorama you can see that everything is still thrown into a bin, while the other side shows that plastic waste is separated from organic waste.

6th diorama
There has been a deposit on glass bottles since 1885. From 1 January 2025, there will finally also be a deposit on plastic bottles and cans. Our diorama shows a person simply throwing a plastic bottle into the forest. In the second section, you can see a second person picking up the bottle. In the last section, you can see that you get money for the returned bottle.

7th diorama
Until 31 December 2024, there will be a separate collection bin for metal packaging; from 1 January 2025, metal packaging will be disposed of in the yellow bag or in the yellow bin. In our diorama, we have illustrated how metal waste and plastic waste will be disposed of together in the future.

Waste creature toxic waste

The toxic waste creature’s spoken text

Do you have something that’s difficult? Here’s the solution! The Toxic Waste Express tours the city and takes your problem materials! Medicines, energy-saving light bulbs, paints, batteries? Take it to the Toxic Waste Express! Old cooking oil? This is also the right place! Small electrical appliances? Yes, all this can be handed in at the Toxic Waste Express!

Speech texts toxic waste bin game

Welcome to the Toxic Waste Express! Some of the items handed in here can be recycled. Old electrical appliances, for example, are shredded and a part of this shredded material is recycled. Old cooking oils are also collected here and can be processed into biodiesel, soaps or cleaning agents. However, some of the waste collected here is so toxic that nobody is allowed to come into contact with it. These problematic substances are incinerated in special waste incineration plants or treated in a certain way. However, a small residue such as mercury remains. We store this residue in toxic waste bins. But what happens to the toxic waste then? Where do we put it?

This text can be heard when the forest has been selected:
That would not go well! If the toxic waste were simply stored in the forest, rainwater could wash the poison into the groundwater, a huge danger for the environment!

This text can be heard when the desert has been selected:
Toxic waste is not safely stored in the desert! Toxic substances could escape and poison the environment.

This text can be heard when the North Pole has been selected:
The North Pole may be far away, but toxic waste is not safely stored there. If toxic substances escape, the environment is in danger!

This text can be heard when the sea has been selected:
This is a very bad idea! If toxic substances get into the sea water, the effects on the environment will be catastrophic!

This text can be heard when space has been selected:
Storing toxic waste in space is not a good idea. But you’ll be amazed: even in space there is already rubbish. The remains of broken satellites and burnt-out rockets buzz around the earth as space debris. (There is even rubbish on the moon that astronauts left behind when they landed on the moon. And on Mars, where no humans have ever been, there are already several tonnes of rubbish: broken research robots, for example).

This text can be heard when the tunnel in the mountain has been selected:
Yes, this is actually the only option we have for storing toxic waste such as mercury. Deep underground, the toxic waste is protected from rainwater. This way, the toxic waste should be stored safely for several thousand years – at least that’s what we hope. We do not currently have a solution for disposing of the toxic waste forever.