Cologne sinks in the garbage: Citizens report waste chaos in the city!

Cologne sinks in the garbage: Citizens report waste chaos in the city!

Köln, Deutschland - In Cologne, "garbage alarm" is once again announced! The city is faced with a serious garbage problem that is getting out of hand. Numerous reader reporters have documented unsustainable garbage accumulation in different districts. Hartmut Josef Giebels discovered a collection of garbage on the park belt, in which there were even shredded deposit bottles. Udo Schneider reported on a similar horror situation in Cologne-Mülheim, where an old mattress, a mined wardrobe and a stove were carelessly unloaded. Within just 24 hours, the square mutated from a mattress to a chaotic garbage area that was not cleaned for four weeks.

But that's not all: In Zollstock, an old sofa, a chair and a shopping cart with a rubbish were discovered. There is also a defective phone booth on the Kaiser Wilhelm-Ring, which, according to Telekom, is to be removed by the end of 2025. However, the speed of these measures does not affect approval everywhere. There are also reports on unsanitary conditions at railway stops that are used by homeless as a place to sleep and stand out by intensive urine clothes. What's going on here, Cologne?

an alliance against littering

To master the garbage problem, the city of Cologne has launched a new campaign in cooperation with the waste management companies Cologne (AWB). Under the motto "Over 23,000 in your city! Do you meet the next?" the population should be sensitized to the proper disposal of garbage. The aim is to use the public wastebasket, which are now even equipped with ash Cancers and dog cheeky dispensers. In order to combat the dark times of illegal garbage loads, fines of up to 150 euros are imposed for improper waste disposal.

The numbers speak for themselves: In 2024, around 28,000 illegal garbage deposits were reported, an increase compared to the 24,000 of the previous year. The city spends over 14 million euros a year for the disposal of wild garbage, and the tendency is still steep. Cologne offers free disposal options for larger waste, such as in two recycling centers and a pick-up service from the AWB. As heavy as the garbage weighs on the streets, it is as important to clarify the AWB. During the "Kölle Putzmunter" campaigns, almost 25,000 volunteers were involved in a cleaner everyday life last year.

a growing problem

But the campaign is only part of a major challenge. In a study by the Federal Environmental Office, it was found that Littering - the careless disposal of waste in public space has increased significantly in the past five years. Over 58 % of the experts surveyed report on this increase, and 62 % find an increase compared to ten years ago. Above all, plastic and composite materials make up 57 % of the illegal waste, closely followed by cigarettes, one-way drinks and chewing gum.

Since the loosening of the corona -related restrictions lead to more people spending time outdoors, many consume their food and drinks. But not everything ends up in the intended waste container. So there is a need for action! Cities and municipalities already use various measures against Littering, from the expansion of waste containers to sensitization measures.

For more information you can use the articles on Express , City of Cologne and