Berlin's dirty and gloomy image to be addressed sternly by the Senate
Berlin is taking a significant step towards a cleaner city with the approval of a new fine catalog for illegal waste disposal. The Senate, as the state's government, is responsible for implementing this new measure, with the Berlin environmental administration and local authorities handling the enforcement and specific regulation.
The new catalog expands upon the current one, aiming to deter individuals from committing crimes for personal enrichment. The public order office now has the discretion to issue a warning fine for littering, with a litterer caught in the act facing a fine of up to 55 euros for a cigarette butt thrown on the ground and 80 euros for not removing dog poop.
Disposable cups, packaging material, or left-behind dog poop bags could be fined up to 350 euros. For one cubic meter or 100 kilograms of bulky waste, the fine is between 4,000 and 8,000 euros. Graduated fines apply to illegal bulky waste disposal, with smaller quantities costing between 1,500 and 4,000 euros.
More serious offenses, such as illegally dumping old tires in the landscape, can result in a fine of 700 euros per tire. Electrical appliances and bulky waste with hazardous components can cost between 1,000 and 15,000 euros.
The new fines are not just a deterrent but also a source of funding for measures to monitor relevant waste sites. The proceeds from the fines could be used to finance measures such as using cameras.
The black-red coalition proposed these higher fines, linked to the demand for the Senate to implement this specifically. The Council of Mayors must still approve the new fine catalog before it can come into force.
Berlin is known for being dirty, with many finding it annoying. The Senate aims to make Berlin cleaner by implementing the new fine catalog and other measures. The Berlin Waste Management (BSR) billed Land Berlin nearly ten million euros for the disposal of illegal waste in 2023, highlighting the need for these tougher penalties.
Carelessly discarded cigarette butts will be fined from 250 euros in the future, and a mattress left on the sidewalk can be fined 100 euros. The new fines are intended to dampen the urge to commit crimes for personal enrichment and contribute to a cleaner Berlin.
