Illegally dumped construction rubble, tires, or old furniture generate enormous costs for municipalities and districts in Germany. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, over 8,000 tons of such waste were collected last year, costing more than 300,000 euros. In Saxony-Anhalt, annual expenses already exceed 2.6 million euros, and in the Mansfeld-Südharz district alone, they hover around 150,000 euros per year.

Rising costs for municipalities

Illegal waste dumping poses a serious financial burden. In Saxony-Anhalt, the annual costs of its removal exceeded 2.6 million euros, and in the Mansfeld-Südharz district, they reach 150,000 euros per year.

Efforts to counteract

Municipalities offer free collection of bulky waste and conduct educational campaigns. The Consumer Center in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania informs about possibilities for legal waste disposal.

Problems with law enforcement

Despite available solutions, the scale of the phenomenon remains high. Authorities point to difficulties in detecting perpetrators, which prevents shifting the costs onto the guilty parties.

Losses for the entire community

Money spent on cleaning up illegal dumps is funds taken away from other important purposes, such as roads or playgrounds. Ultimately, the costs are borne by all residents.

The problem of illegally dumped waste, such as construction rubble, used tires, or old furniture, is a source of rising expenses for local municipalities in various parts of Germany. According to the latest data from the federal states of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Saxony-Anhalt, the annual costs of removing such illegal dumps reach millions of euros.

In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, just last year, over 8,000 tons of illegally deposited trash were collected from forest areas and roadsides. This operation cost districts and independent cities a total of over 300,000 euros. The largest financial burden was borne by the biggest centers. Szczecin spent about 47,500 euros on this purpose, and Rostock – 23,000 euros.

The issue of illegal waste disposal in Germany intensified after the amended Waste Management Act (Kreislaufwirtschaftsgesetz) came into force in 2019. The new regulations tightened requirements and increased the costs of legal disposal, particularly for construction and industrial waste, which may have encouraged some people to seek illegal ways to get rid of the problem.

In Saxony-Anhalt, the financial scale of the problem is even greater. As reported by the state authorities, the total annual costs of removing illegal waste borne by municipalities and districts in this region exceed 2.6 million euros. For example, the Mansfeld-Südharz district allocates about 150,000 euros for this purpose every year.

„"die illegalen Ablagerungen seien 'völlig unnötig, binden zusätzlich Personal und kosten viel Geld'"” — Spokeswoman for the Mansfeld-Südharz district

The district's spokeswoman, Michaela John, emphasized that the problem keeps recurring, and reports about new illegal dumps in forests and on roadsides come in regularly.

Costs of removing illegal waste in selected regions of Germany (2025): Saxony-Anhalt (total): - → 2,600,000 € per year; Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (total): - → 300,000 € per year; Mansfeld-Südharz District (SA): - → 150,000 € per year; Szczecin (MVP): - → 47,500 €; Rostock (MVP): - → 23,000 €

Municipal authorities are trying to counteract this phenomenon by offering residents conveniences. In many towns, there are programs for the free collection of bulky waste, such as furniture or appliances. The Consumer Center of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania informs that in Rostock, residents can report such collection any number of times per year without additional fees.

Nevertheless, the availability of free services does not fully solve the problem. One of the key challenges remains detecting the perpetrators. When it is not possible to identify the person responsible for an illegal dump, the costs of its cleanup fall entirely on the municipality and ultimately on all its residents. These funds could have been allocated to other purposes, such as road repairs, playgrounds, or infrastructure investments.

Experts point out that, in addition to conveniences, increased controls of areas particularly vulnerable to illegal dumps and consistent prosecution and punishment of lawbreakers are also necessary. Only a combination of these measures can bring lasting improvement to the situation and relieve municipal budgets.

Mentioned People

  • Michaela John — Spokesperson for the Mansfeld-Südharz district in Saxony-Anhalt, commenting on the costs of illegal dumps.