Ilm district is fighting against the flood of garbage: what is now driving up the costs!

Ilm district is fighting against the flood of garbage: what is now driving up the costs!

In the Ilm district, the image that has now become part of everyday life is all too familiar: illegally dumped garbage that disfigures the landscape and poses immense challenges for waste management. The Ilm-Kreis waste management company is fighting against the ever-increasing flood of waste and the associated costs [insuedthueringen.de]. Around 50,000 tonnes of illegal waste are generated every year, making the situation particularly precarious.

Annett Voßhage, head of the Environment Agency, presented the current figures on wild waste dumping at a meeting of the Committee for Nature, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry in Arnstadt. Unfortunately, disposal costs have risen sharply in 2024, posing challenges not only to those responsible, but also to citizens trying to dispose of their waste properly.

Decrease in workforce and impact on waste disposal

There was a drastic change in 2024: a previous work team that specifically dealt with illegal waste dumping was disbanded. This led to the Ilmenau Environmental Service (IUWD) being commissioned with disposal. The consequences are clearly noticeable: the costs of waste disposal are rising as more resources are required to deal with the ever-increasing amount of waste.

In Germany, the issue of waste disposal is anything but an easy undertaking. The legal framework under the Circular Economy Act (KrWG) places strict requirements on waste management. However, the challenge remains to educate the population about the importance of waste prevention and proper disposal. The annual waste generation in Germany amounts to an impressive 325 to 350 million tons, as can be read on destatis.de.

Fines as a deterrent

On the other hand, fines for illegal waste disposal are a hotly debated topic. These vary considerably depending on the federal state. In North Rhine-Westphalia, for example, littered areas can be fined between 10 and 25 euros for smaller amounts and up to 5,000 euros for larger deposits. If you compare the various fines in other federal states, you can see a wide spectrum, also in relation to the types of waste that are disposed of illegally.

In federal states such as Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, there are sometimes high penalties for illegal waste disposal. For example, up to 2,500 euros can be charged for bulky waste if deposits are found over one cubic meter, as bussgeldkatalog.org impressively shows.

It is clear: waste management in the Ilm district faces enormous challenges. It is all the more important that both the administration and the citizens find solutions together to prevent illegal dumping and keep the costs of waste disposal under control.