Berlin cracks down on illegal waste, significantly boosting fines for discarding cigarette butts, with a hefty €250 penalty.
The Berlin Senate has launched a new campaign to combat the issue of illegal waste disposal in the city, with a focus on tougher financial penalties and enhanced monitoring and enforcement.
Starting from Tuesday, 19 August, the fines for various forms of illegal waste disposal have significantly increased. For instance, the act of throwing a cigarette butt on the ground now costs €250, an increase from the previous €55. Dumping illegal waste, such as an old sofa, now incurs a fine of €4,000, up from €150.
The highest fines will be imposed on those dumping large quantities of waste, with disposing of up to 100 kilograms of construction rubble leading to fines of up to €25,000. Dumping several large items will incur a fine of €8,000. For larger quantities of hazardous substances such as asbestos, the penalties can be significantly higher.
The fine for not picking up a dog's mess while walking has also risen, now costing €80, up from €55.
However, politicians from the Greens and Die Linke argue that these measures will likely be ineffective without greater monitoring and enforcement. They contend that fines alone are not sufficient to effectively reduce waste pollution, and that stronger monitoring and enforcement are needed to achieve meaningful impact.
In many districts of Berlin, carelessly and illegally discarded waste, including old furniture, carpets, and electrical appliances, are common sights on the street. The city's cleaning service, the BSR, spent €10 million in 2023 on clearing such waste.
Implementing advanced technologies such as AI-enabled surveillance has proven more effective by enabling near real-time detection and quicker intervention, thereby complementing fines with stronger enforcement measures. This combination addresses both deterrence and the operational challenges of catching violations promptly.
The CDU/SPD coalition argues that tougher financial penalties will deter offenders in regards to city cleanliness. They believe that the increased fines will serve as a strong deterrent and help to reduce the amount of illegal waste disposal in the city.
This campaign forms part of a broader effort to make Berlin cleaner and more sustainable, and it is hoped that the combination of tougher penalties and enhanced enforcement will lead to a significant reduction in illegal waste disposal and pollution in the city.
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