Disposing of wallpaper: How to get rid of your old wallpaper
Find out how to dispose of your old wallpaper here.
Removing wallpaper correctly
Before disposal, the old wallpaper must of course be removed first. In the best case, the wallpaper can be pulled off dry. However, you will usually have to moisten the old wallpaper with a mixture of water and dish soap or use a wallpaper remover. Simply spray the old wallpaper with the mixture and wait a moment. The wallpaper can then be easily removed. You can use a scraper to help with particularly stubborn areas. It is best to collect the removed wallpaper directly in garbage bags to save yourself dirt and extra work. 
Disposing of old wallpaper in household waste
Many types of wallpaper have a backing layer made of paper. Can this wallpaper simply be disposed of in the paper recycling bin? Unfortunately, in most cases this is not possible, as paper wallpaper usually contains other materials such as synthetic fibers or cotton fibers. In addition, there may be traces of paste, which also must not be disposed of in the paper recycling bin.
Disposal in the paper recycling bin is therefore not possible—even if the rolls have been opened. This is because most paper wallpapers are not water-soluble and cannot therefore be recycled. This leaves only one option for household waste: wallpaper belongs in the black garbage bin. It does not matter whether the wallpaper has been torn off, unused, or treated. You should just make sure that the paste residue does not stick to the inside of the trash can, as this may make it difficult to empty.
Disposing of non-woven wallpaper
Non-woven wallpaper consists of a combination of cellulose fibers and textile fibers as well as acrylate- or plastic-based binders. As it contains adhesives, dyes, plastic components, or impregnations, non-woven wallpaper does not belong in the paper or organic waste bin, but in the general waste bin.
Disposing of fiberglass wallpaper
Fiberglass wallpaper is an exception to this rule. Due to its special material, it must not be disposed of in the regular trash, but rather in the hazardous waste. It is best to check with your local recycling center to find out how to dispose of fiberglass wallpaper and what costs are involved.
Disposing of liquid wallpaper
Further exceptions apply to liquid wallpaper. Cotton plaster is a natural product. If it has not been painted over, liquid wallpaper can be disposed of in the organic waste bin. In most cases, however, disposal in the residual waste will be necessary.
Disposing of large quantities of wallpaper
If you have large quantities of wallpaper leftovers, the black bin will probably not be sufficient to dispose of all of it. In this case, it is advisable to collect the wallpaper leftovers in garbage bags and dispose of them at the recycling center or a collection point for household waste. There may be fees for this. These are determined independently by the local authorities. It is best to check the waste disposal regulations in your area before disposal.p>
If you do not want to take the wallpaper scraps to the recycling center, you can also place them in garbage bags next to the residual waste bin. Some local authorities sell extra garbage bags for this purpose, for which additional fees are charged. As a rule, these extra quantities must be registered in advance, as the garbage collection routes are planned precisely. Alternatively, you can register for bulk waste collection and have the wallpaper scraps picked up that way. In many local authorities, bulk waste can be registered once a year or even more often free of charge.
Disposing of wallpaper paste
If you have any wallpaper paste left over after wallpapering, it must be disposed of properly. Under no circumstances should the paste be poured down the drain! As long as the paste is liquid, it cannot be disposed of in the household waste. The paste must be dried before it is put in the black bin. To do this, you can leave it to dry in an open bucket or spread it out on foil.
Disposing of wallpaper: Costs
Costs for disposing of old wallpaper only arise if the residual waste bin is no longer sufficient. For disposal at the recycling center, there is usually a small fee of less than $10 per liter of waste. Having additional waste collected by the garbage collection service is usually only about half as expensive. The fee schedule for waste is determined independently by the local authorities. Whether costs are incurred and how much they are therefore varies from place to place, but can be viewed transparently.
Recycling wallpaper
It's a shame to simply throw away wallpaper with beautiful patterns. If the wallpaper has been carefully removed, you can give it a second life, for example as gift wrapping or craft paper, or even as furniture decoration, for scrapbooking, or as original wall art.
If you're not interested in recycling projects yourself, you can also offer the wallpaper scraps for free in classified ads or ask local kindergartens or schools if they would be interested in using rolls of wallpaper that have been started or wallpaper scraps as craft materials.