Why can a plastic milk carton go in the PMD, but not a plastic marker pen? And why is a soup can welcome, while a broken screwdriver or a plastic toy car really does not belong there? The answer lies not (only) in the material, but in the function. We have a handy mnemonic for PMD for you!
What goes in the PMD? A handy mnemonic!
In partnership with Verpact
PMD stands for Plastic Packaging, Metal Packaging and Drinking Packs - also better known as PBD (plastic, tin & drinking cartons). Tomato, Tomato, but from January 2026 more types of packaging are allowed to be added. That's good news for recycling! But it's also a perfect time for a refresher course. Because at home, things still don't always go quite right. Many people still think of PMD as ‘anything made of plastic or metal’. But that is so wrong. It's not just about the material, but also the function: only packaging belongs in the PMD bag - i.e. things that have packed something, come from a household and are empty. In doubt? Ask yourself these three questions:
- Is it a packaging (been)?
- Does it come from a household?
- Is it empty?
Three times ‘yes’? Then it's allowed in the PMD. So a plastic shampoo bottle, a can of tuna fish or an empty milk carton: fine. But a tupperware container, a broken marker or a plastic toy car? Leave those out of this bag, as they are not packaging and can significantly disrupt the recycling process. Certain types of waste can even pose dangerous situations if you throw it in the PMD, such as batteries and accumulators. See for yourself how our PMD waste gets contaminated, as we visited PreZero in Zwolle, which sorts PMD into as many as 14 different streams.
From 2026, more types of packaging will be allowed in PMD, such as empty whipped cream syringes. Furthermore, it is important that you always dispose of PMD empty and do not add any other waste to it, as this will disrupt things and can even be dangerous. And be careful not to ‘conveniently’ stuff packaging with other packaging ‘to save space’. That too makes recycling difficult.
More is allowed in PMD from now on
Because of the new rules, from 1 January 2026 more is allowed in PMD than before. This is due to smart sorting techniques and because clear(er) agreements have been made between municipalities and packaging companies. What is now also allowed in the bag - and not before - is, for example: a whipped cream aerosol can (empty!), plastic and aluminium coffee capsules (these are exceptionally allowed in the bag with their contents of coffee grounds, view the sorting process of coffee capsules) and a combination packaging of plastic and paper such as a bread bag with a plastic window. Want to know exactly what's allowed or not? Then check the new Do-Not list below.
In doubt? Then waste separation guide.nl always a handy helpline. Bookmark it. And remember: this is not waste, but a raw material. Is PMD not collected separately in your municipality? No stress! Then it will be separated and recycled afterwards. Also great!
Learn more about recycling our waste
- Also see: This is how our packaging glass is recycled.
- Also see: from gft to compost!
- Also see: the recycling of our deposit tin!
Photo credits: thegreenlist.nl.
