The authorities of the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania have revealed the scale of illegal waste disposal. Last year, over 8,000 tons of trash abandoned in forests and along roads were collected, costing municipalities around 300,000 euros. The highest costs were borne by Szczecin and Rostock. Some municipalities offer free bulky waste collection services to combat this phenomenon.

Enormous Scale and Costs

In the past year in Mecklenburg, over 8,000 tons of waste were collected from illegal dumpsites. Their removal cost municipalities a total of approximately 300,000 euros, representing a significant burden on local budgets.

Most Expensive Cities

The highest costs for removing illegal dumpsites were borne by the state capital, Szczecin – 47,500 euros. In Rostock, 23,000 euros were spent for this purpose. The costs are distributed unevenly among individual counties and independent cities.

Free Alternatives

To combat the practice, free collection of bulky and electronic waste has been introduced in parts of the region. In Rostock, residents can report such waste without limit and without additional fees. Solutions vary depending on the municipality.

Nature of Waste

Illegal dumpsites primarily contain construction debris and electronic waste. This waste is dumped in forests, on wasteland, and along roads, posing a serious threat to the natural environment.

Systemic Problem

Illegal dumpsites are a recurring, annual problem that generates a constant financial burden for local authorities. This indicates imperfections in the waste management system and the need for increased inspections and public education.

The authorities of the federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania have published alarming data regarding illegal waste disposal. Over the past year, over 8,000 tons of waste, primarily construction debris and electronic waste, were collected from forest areas, roadside verges, and other illegal sites. The cost of removing these illegal dumpsites burdened the budgets of counties and independent cities with a total sum of approximately 300,000 euros.

As reported by the local Ministry of the Environment, the distribution of these costs is uneven. The heaviest financial burden was borne by the state capital, Szczecin, where 47,500 euros were spent on cleaning areas of illegal waste. The second-highest cost was in the city of Rostock, with expenses reaching 23,000 euros. The problem is chronic and repeats annually, generating constant, unplanned expenditures for municipalities that could be allocated to other purposes.

Problems with illegal waste dumpsites in Germany intensified particularly after the introduction in 2019 of a new, more restrictive Waste Management Act (Kreislaufwirtschaftsgesetz), which raised standards and costs for legal disposal, especially for construction and industrial waste.

In response to this practice, some municipalities and cities in the region are introducing incentives for residents to encourage them to dispose of waste legally. The Consumer Center of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania informs that in many localities, there is a possibility of free collection of bulky waste, such as old furniture or household appliances. In Rostock, this service is particularly advantageous – residents can request the collection of such waste any number of times per year without incurring additional fees. Similar, though not always as extensive, regulations apply in other municipalities, aiming to reduce the temptation to illegally dump waste "in the wild."

prawda: Data on 8,000 tons of illegally collected waste and costs of around 300,000 euros come from an official communication by the local Ministry of the Environment and are reliable. (Ministerstwo Środowiska Meklemburgii-Pomorza Przedniego)

Despite these conveniences, the scale of the phenomenon indicates that the mere availability of free services does not fully solve the problem. Experts point out that increased inspections of areas particularly vulnerable to illegal dumpsites and educational campaigns informing about the real costs that illegal dumping generates for the entire community are also necessary. The costs borne by municipalities ultimately translate into higher fees or limitations in other municipal services for all residents.

Costs of Removing Illegal Dumpsites in Selected Cities (2025): Szczecin (state capital): - → 47,500 €; Rostock: - → 23,000 €; Total for all counties and cities: - → ~300,000 €

Liberal media may emphasize the underfunding of municipal services and the need for increased investment in ecological waste management as part of combating the effects of climate change. | Conservative media may point to a lack of civic responsibility and the need for stricter penalties and more effective controls as the main remedy for the problem.