Schwerin is fighting mountains of rubbish: citizens report wild litter!

Schwerin is fighting mountains of rubbish: citizens report wild litter!

A truly disturbing sight is piling up on Edgar-Bennert-Straße in Lankow: a gigantic pile of garbage consisting of old sofas, broken furniture, mattresses, cardboard boxes and strollers is causing unpleasant surprises between houses and in front of house entrances. This problem of illegal dumping of waste is not new and has been plaguing residents for a long time. Elke Staudle, who regularly reports garbage to the city, is frustrated because the next mountains of garbage often appear just a few days after the first deposits have been picked up.

The Schwerin waste disposal and street cleaning company (SAS) is responsible for the disposal of bulky waste, but cannot provide any information on the average processing time for such reports. According to SAS, illegal dumping occurs again and again, especially in the Neu Zippendorf and Lankow districts. The situation is so serious that the city of Schwerin is asking citizens to document and report wild deposits in order to specifically combat the problem.

The legal consequences of wild garbage

Illegal disposal is legally classified as “wild waste” and can be punished as an administrative offense with fines. Polluters who are caught even have to pay for the costs of disposal. But this usually only happens after a long investigation phase, while the waste continues to affect the quality of life of local residents.

Elke Staudle is skeptical about the effectiveness of the current measures. Despite regular reports, it appears that the same areas are being affected over and over again, with no permanent solution in sight. The situation could potentially be improved through proven strategies such as those used in other countries. In Austria, environmental law plays a major role when it comes to the responsible handling of waste. Pollutants end up not only in residential areas, but also in nature reserves - this has devastating consequences for flora and fauna.

Measures against illegal waste disposal

Educating people about green behavior and promoting a culture of respect for nature are essential steps to tackle the problem in the long term. Solid cooperation between authorities and environmental protection organizations has proven to be very effective here. Clean-up events, workshops and information sessions can raise citizens' awareness while promoting better waste separation and disposal.

The negative effects of illegal waste disposal are not only felt locally, but also affect society as a whole. Environmental pollution and threats to public health are pressing problems that need to be addressed.

Between the sound of the asphalt joints and the smell of rotting garbage, there is a lot to do for the city of Schwerin. Citizen engagement is required to overcome this huge task and ultimately create a clean and livable environment for everyone. Because in a city that struggles with waste disposal, every contribution from citizens is important.

For more information about the waste situation and how to reduce waste in Europe, visit the Eurostat website: Eurostat on waste.

In addition, information on the obligations in the event of illegal waste disposal and the legal framework can be found here: Environmental law – obligations in the event of illegal waste disposal.