Garbage chaos in Lübeck: calls for cleanliness are increasing rapidly!

Garbage chaos in Lübeck: calls for cleanliness are increasing rapidly!

The city of Lübeck has a problem with illegal waste disposal, which has recently come into greater focus. According to a report by hl-live.de The number of reports via the city's defect detector rose from 2,000 to 8,000 per year. This illustrates citizens' growing awareness of cleanliness and order in their surroundings. Harald Denckmann reported on an incident in which a refrigerator was illegally disposed of at a bus stop. Unfortunately, such grievances are increasing and waste disposal companies are called upon to keep the city clean.

The city administration has proven to be quick and responsive, particularly in order to avoid the dreaded ‘broken window effect’. This effect means that small signs of disorder - such as graffiti or littering - can lead to an escalation of criminal behavior, which is also repeatedly discussed in research. This is what an article by sueddeutsche.de, that this theory is often used as a justification for strict policing policies, particularly in New York. But the empirical support of this theory is increasingly being questioned, particularly in wealthier areas.

Criticism of the broken windows theory

The broken windows theory, popularized primarily by James Wilson and George Kelling in the 1980s, posits that even the smallest signs of disorder can lead to more serious offenses. Interestingly, studies show that in affluent neighborhoods, disorder tends to have a negative impact, while in communities with strong social cohesion, people instinctively try to resist disorder. Disorder in these areas can demonstrably lead to an aversion to further disturbances, which is interpreted by researchers as a positive effect, as the project by soztheo.de explained.

Although the city administration in Lübeck responded quickly to citizens' reports, there were concerns that the processing of the incidents could be slower. The mayor had requested an additional position to deal with these concerns, but this request was rejected due to the tight budget situation. This could result in increased response times to reports of illegal dumping or similar issues in the city.

Cleanliness as a civic concern

Citizens in Lübeck can report grievances via the “MeinLübeck” app and the website www.luebeck.de. The city offers various options for proper waste disposal, including bulky waste collection, scrap metal pickup, and a yard on Posener Street for trash deliveries. Despite these offers, there are always cases of environmentally harmful disposal that affects the cityscape.

In order to further increase public awareness of cleanliness and order, it is important that the city administration and citizens work hand in hand. The increase in reports shows that Lübeck residents are concerned about the cleanliness of their city. Given the challenges posed by the broken windows theory, Lübeck may still be at the beginning of an intensive discussion about order and security in public spaces.