Schwerin is sinking into garbage: Paul's Church under illegal waste!

Schwerin is sinking into garbage: Paul's Church under illegal waste!

In the Schwerin residential ensemble it is becoming increasingly difficult to get a clear view of the beautiful Paulskirche. Instead, garbage deposits mar the image of the world heritage site. Side streets and sidewalks are repeatedly blocked by overflowing containers and illegally dumped garbage. Resident Kathrin Schmidt reports that you often come across car tires, household waste and bulky waste that literally get in the way of visitors and residents. Among the many garbage “tourists” who often come on weekends, there are not only people from Schwerin. The waste left behind often comes from people with license plates from Ludwigslust-Parchim (LUP) or Northwest Mecklenburg (NWM). This problematic development not only causes resentment, but also has an impact on local residents' celebrations.

“These conditions are no longer acceptable,” emphasizes Pastor Klaus Kuske, who has been monitoring the waste problem. Weddings and church visits that take place in the shadow of Paul's Church suffer from the poor appearance. The city administration is aware of the situation. A rethinking of waste disposal, such as relocating recycling points, was rejected as unfeasible due to the dense development. However, future urban planning could provide a remedy - the idea of ​​an underground recycling collection point is being discussed. Resident Schmidt remains skeptical as to whether this measure can actually solve the garbage problem.

Garbage hotspots and rising costs

The extent of waste disposal is not just limited to the residential ensemble. Other districts of Schwerin, such as Mueßer Holz and Neumühle, are also struggling with similar problems. Henning Foerster, a non-attached city representative, made a request to the mayor about this. In view of the constant number of around 300 call-off orders to remove illegal garbage dumps per year between 2019 and 2023, the city authorities see a need for action. Disposal costs have increased from 19,418 euros in 2019 to an impressive 33,057 euros by October 2024.

The development of such hotspots raises questions. There are a total of ten hot spots in Schwerin that, according to the city, need to be cleaned regularly. This includes not only the well-known Lindenstrasse, but also lesser-noticed areas that are nevertheless passionately pursued by residents. The city emphasizes that cleanliness at recycling sites remains an ongoing issue that requires a lot of commitment. A culprit is usually only rarely identified because helpful information is simply missing.

Successful models from other cities

Cooperation between the city and the police and municipal public order service (KOD) is viewed as positive. However, there are many cities across the country that are taking more conscious measures against illegal waste dumping. For example, a system was established in Offenbach that encourages citizens to report illegal dumping via an app. This type of citizen participation has already led to over 16,000 tips. In addition, some municipalities are relying on technical solutions, such as video surveillance of garbage and recycling containers, which has had great success in cities like Berlin by allowing fines to be imposed.

The Leipzig model of “environmental detectives”, which includes precise checks and the identification of polluters, is also cited as a positive example. In Leipzig, 1,125 cubic meters of waste were processed at 1,953 locations in 2023, resulting in 472 successful investigation results. Such procedures can also be discussed in Schwerin, even if the city administration is critical of this and does not consider higher personnel costs to be justified.

In summary, it can be said that the city of Schwerin is struggling with a serious challenge. It not only takes a good hand for planning, but above all a mobilization of citizens in order to sustainably improve the image of the city. The trash is more than just a nuisance; it is a sign of the need for a united approach for a clean and livable Schwerin.