noun
garbage collection, trash collection
B1
Müllabfuhr: feminine noun meaning 'garbage collection' or 'trash collection', often referring to municipal pickup service. Plural: Müllabfuhren. Declension: die Müllabfuhr (Nom. sg.), die Müllabfuhren (pl.), Dat. den Müllabfuhren. Compound of Müll + Abfuhr; no irregular plural. Used weekly in many towns.
Examples
Die Müllabfuhr kommt immer am Dienstagmorgen.
The garbage collection always takes place on Tuesday morning.
Die Müllabfuhr kommt jeden Mittwoch.
The garbage collection comes every Wednesday.
Die Bewohner beschwerten sich, weil sie mit der Müllabfuhr unzufrieden waren, seit die Tonnen zwei Wochen nicht geleert wurden.
The residents complained because they were unhappy with the garbage collection since the bins had not been emptied for two weeks.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture a truck with 'MÜLL' painted on it picking up bins from the street.
Sounds like 'mule-abb for' — imagine a mule hauling away trash.
die Müllabfuhr (feminine): imagine a female worker driving the truck; 'die' for people/services.
Notes
Refers to the municipal service that collects household refuse. In everyday speech you may also hear 'Müllabfuhrtermin' (collection day) or simply 'Müllwagen' (garbage truck).