The “Sperrling” as a Berlin Success Model for Sustainable Municipal Waste Management
Cities and municipalities face the challenge of organizing urban waste collection in a climate-friendly, efficient, and citizen-focused way. A current pilot project by the Berliner Stadtreinigung (BSR) shows how this can be done. With the new “Sperrling”, BSR is expanding its traditional bulky waste collection with an innovative solution – relying on electric cargo bikes.
The “Sperrling” – a flexible solution for small volumes
Until now, private households wanting to dispose of just a chair, a shelf, or a few bulky items had to wait for the bulky waste truck or transport the items themselves to a recycling center. This is where the “Sperrling” comes in: via the BSR website, citizens in selected areas of central Berlin can easily register small amounts of bulky waste for collection. Details on what can be collected are listed here. Collection costs €35 and usually takes place within one day – simple, fast, and right at your doorstep.
Why the Mubea eCargobike?
To implement the service, BSR needed a vehicle that is sustainable, agile, and spacious at the same time. The choice fell on the Mubea eCargobike PACK: with up to 200 kg payload and a large loading volume of 2,000 liters, it replaces small vans in the city. Thanks to its compact design, it can easily maneuver through narrow streets and courtyards – a decisive advantage in Berlin’s dense urban traffic. It also passes through typical street bollards spaced about one meter apart.
Additional benefits stand out in everyday city use: there is no need to search for parking, as the cargo bike – like a regular bicycle – can stop and unload right in front of the house. Using bike lanes allows it to bypass traffic jams, creating a clear time advantage. It also provides more flexibility, reaching otherwise difficult-to-access addresses via shortcuts and narrow paths.
In daily operation
The Sperrling is now in regular use. Teams use the cargo bike to efficiently collect small amounts of bulky waste and feed them directly into the recycling process. This enables
- short distances
- quick response times
- emission-free transport.
The feedback in Berlin has been overwhelmingly positive: both citizens and BSR employees appreciate the flexibility and sustainable character of the service. In inner-city areas, the bike is seen as a “complementary alternative to vans.”
“With the Mubea electric cargo bike, I can move much faster through narrow streets and courtyards. For small volumes of bulky waste, I don’t need a large truck – it makes the job easier, and people in the city are thrilled,” says Steve, driver of the Sperrling.
A Recommendation for other municipalities
The Berlin example shows: eCargobikes can help municipalities introduce new services in a climate-friendly and citizen-focused way. Whether for bulky waste, municipal services, or green space maintenance – the advantages are clear:
- Zero Emissions: Reduction of CO₂ and noise.
- Agility in traffic: Smooth navigation even in narrow streets.
- No parking issues: Direct access right to the doorstep.
- Time savings: Avoiding traffic jams via bike lanes and shortcuts.
- Cost savings: Lower operating and maintenance costs compared to vans.
- Citizen proximity: A visible contribution to sustainable urban development.
With the Sperrling collection service and the use of the Mubea PACK, the Berlin Sanitation Department is setting an important precedent. The project demonstrates impressively how sustainable micromobility can be implemented in practice – creating real added value for everyday life. An insight into the service is provided in the following video.
If you, too, are looking for sustainable solutions to support your municipality, feel free to contact us – we are sure to have the right option in our fleet.
If you, too, are looking for sustainable solutions to support your municipality, feel free to contact us – we are sure to have the right option in our fleet.
