Abfuhr

Abfuhr is a German noun meaning the removal or transport away of material from a location. The term is most commonly used in the context of waste management to describe the service that collects and carries away refuse, recyclables, or organic waste. In everyday language, phrases such as Müllabfuhr or Abfallabfuhr refer to these collection services, and the date of collection is called der Abfuhrtermin or der Abholtermin. Municipal waste services often organize Abfuhr on a regular schedule, for example weekly or biweekly, with specific streams such as Restmüllabfuhr (residual waste) or Biotonnenabfuhr (bio-waste).

Beyond waste management, Abfuhr can denote the act of removing or dispatching something from a place more generally, including the transport of goods from construction sites or workplaces. The word is formed from the prefix ab- and Fuhr (haul or transport), literally conveying the idea of “the hauling away.”

In German-speaking regions, the concept is widely used in public and private services, and related terms vary by locality. The concept is closely tied to waste disposal systems and urban infrastructure, and it appears in administrative, contractual, and everyday language.

See also: Müllabfuhr, Abfallwirtschaft, Abfallentsorgung.