Recycling center instead of the street: In Berlin, fines for illegal waste disposal are becoming more expensive. (Archive image)
© dpa
Whether it's cigarette butts or refrigerators: illegal waste disposal in Berlin is set to become significantly more expensive than before. The Senate has approved a new list of fines.
Throwing a cigarette butt on the ground will cost up to €250 in the future, instead of the previous €55. A fine of €700 is planned for old tires discarded at the roadside, with the amount increasing for multiple tires. The penalties for old electrical appliances and bulky waste containing harmful substances have been doubled: they now range from €1,000 to €15,000.
Higher fines will also be imposed for violations of the reusable container requirement: anyone with a sales area of more than 80 square meters who does not offer reusable cups for takeaway drinks faces a fine of €750, or even more in individual cases. The new catalog of fines will come into force after publication in the official gazette, i.e., in a few days. It creates clarity and binding force, explained Environment Senator Ute Bonde (CDU). "Environmental protection only works if everyone follows the rules. Where this does not happen, violations must have noticeable consequences."
Many Berlin neighborhoods have problems with carelessly and illegally discarded waste. Quite a few people simply dispose of old furniture, carpets, or electrical appliances on the street. Dog feces and chewing gum litter sidewalks and parks. Discarded to-go coffee cups, bottles, and packaging of all kinds adorn many streets and squares. Illegal dumping of rubble is not uncommon. Disposing of all this costs the state a lot of money.