Electricity
All electrical power points in Germany are designed for 220 volts, 50 Hz. AC and two-point plugs. Any adapters you may need can be bought in electrical shops.

Re-cycling
To a much greater extent than in many other countries Germany practices the re-cycling of waste products. A “throw-away mentality” (Wegwerfmentalität) is frowned upon and people are informed by brochures produced by the municipal authorities how to sort their rubbish, ie. put different kinds of material into different dustbins. Consequently there are dustbins and containers for used paper, glass (sorted according to color), packaging material, organic waste, and residual waste.

Radio and Television License Fees
If you have a radio or a television you have to pay licence fees to the central fees office (GEZ) of the public broadcasting corporations. Those on small incomes can apply to the municipal authorites to be exempted from paying licence fees. Scholarship-holders and other students who do not have lucrative part-time jobs are usually exempt. The authorities check on your full income; you have to provide a detailed run-down of your income and your fixed monthly expenditure. You can get hold of the necessary forms at your local District Office (Bezirksamt) or Local Government Authority (Gemeindeverwaltung). If you do have to pay licence fees do not forget to cancel them when you return home to your own country.

Child Allowance and Day-Care
Only foreign students and academics with valid residence permits of the types called Aufenthaltserlaubnis or Aufenthaltsberechtigung (not Aufenthaltsbewilligung) are entitled to apply for child allowance. As a rule this means academics from the EU and those married to Germans. In order to be eligible the children have to live in Germany during your period of research. Child allowance is € 154 for the first three children respectively and increases to € 179 for the fouth and following. You have to apply for child allowance in writing to the child allowance section (Kindergeldstelle) of the Employment Office (Arbeitsamt) in the town or district where you are staying. In order to enable students with children to concentrate on their studies many institutions of higher education have set-up day-care centres. Ask at Student Services. A fee is charged for nursery school and day-care facilities which varies according to Federal State and income.