waste paper
das Altpapier, die Altpapiere
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waste paper
Used paper, cardboard, and paperboard that is collected in order to be reused or recycled.
Vergiss bitte nicht, die Zeitungen und Kartons zum Altpapier zu bringen.
Please don't forget to take the newspapers and cardboard to the waste paper collection.
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| plural | die Altpapiere |
| genitive | des Altpapieres |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Altpapier | die Altpapiere |
| accusative | das Altpapier | die Altpapiere |
| dative | dem Altpapier | den Altpapieren |
| genitive | des Altpapieres des Altpapiers | der Altpapiere |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
The word 'Altpapier' (waste paper) is a simple compound made up of the adjective 'alt' (old) and the noun 'das Papier' (paper). So it literally means 'old paper.'
Altes Papier gehört nicht in den normalen Müll.
Old paper does not belong in the regular trash.
'Altpapier' (waste paper) is a mass noun (like water or sand) and is therefore almost always used in the singular. It describes the material as a whole, not individual sheets.
Wir sammeln das ganze Altpapier in einer blauen Tonne.
We collect all the waste paper in a blue bin.
In everyday life, 'Altpapier' (waste paper) is often used with verbs such as 'sammeln' (to collect), 'wegbringen' (to take away), or 'entsorgen' (to dispose of). Common nouns in this context are 'die Altpapiertonne' (waste paper bin) and 'der Altpapiercontainer' (waste paper container).
Jeden ersten Montag im Monat wird bei uns das Altpapier abgeholt.
Every first Monday of the month, our waste paper is collected.
paper
Papier generally refers to the material and can be used as a shortened term for the corresponding waste-sorting category. Altpapier explicitly refers to used paper, paperboard, and cardboard collected for recycling. When the recyclable material itself is meant, Altpapier is more precise.
Zu Hause sammeln wir das Altpapier für die Wiederverwertung.
At home, we collect waste paper for recycling.
Zu Hause sammeln wir Papier getrennt vom übrigen Müll.
At home, we collect paper separately from the rest of the garbage.
