Cologne's garbage chaos: The dirtiest city north of Calcutta!

Cologne's garbage chaos: The dirtiest city north of Calcutta!

The streets of Cologne are currently in a worrying condition. According to a recent report by Thorsten Wilhelmi, overfilled garbage cans, bulky waste on the roadsides and garbage in the bushes are the order of the day in Chorweiler. These conditions drive many citizens to despair and give Cologne the unflattering title of “the dirtiest city north of Calcutta”. Wilhelmi also calls for more consistent punishment for waste offenses and an increased presence of the public order office in order to combat this grievance. Unfortunately, there are no signs of a change in thinking in the short term, which doesn't make the situation seem any rosier, as Nina R. from the Severinstrasse, Venloer Strasse and Dürener Strasse districts also criticizes.

But waste disposal is not only problematic in Chorweiler. An anonymous reader-reporter reports on illegally dumped bulky waste at the Fühlinger See parking lot, where wooden slats, a cupboard and plastic bags were carelessly left behind. Such incidents are not uncommon and contribute to increasing pollution in the city.

Optimization of waste disposal

It is important for all Cologne households to keep an eye on collection dates. The collection calendar for 2025 is already available on the waste info website. According to this platform, garbage collection takes place at fixed intervals, with paper being collected every two weeks and organic waste and household waste being collected at shorter intervals. This planning is intended to avoid unpleasant odors and pests that could arise from incorrectly stored waste. But be careful: incorrect disposal can result in waste not being collected.

The collection dates are set specifically for each street and noted in the calendar. Households have the opportunity to request a special date for additional waste collection directly from the waste disposal company. This is particularly important for residents who do not want to rely solely on regular pickups. A good part of waste management has transformed into a resource economy that not only protects the environment but also contributes to the recycling of materials.

Waste separation is key

In order to sustainably improve the waste situation, correct waste separation is essential. If the rubbish falls into the wrong bin, it is often ignored. The collection calendar therefore offers useful information on how to fill the bins correctly. Electrical devices and batteries must be collected and disposed of separately, while non-recyclable items must be collected for bulky waste. Here, too, the rule states: garbage cans must be ready by 7 a.m. to guarantee punctual collection.

In many German cities, including Cologne, awareness of the importance of waste management is growing. Data and statistics show that the amount of plastic waste and mixed packaging is a key challenge. This information is important not only for the city administration, but also for citizens, who can actively contribute to reducing waste and improving the garbage situation. The Destatis website contains comprehensive data on waste management, documenting progress in waste separation and waste disposal.

So let's take on the challenge together to remove Cologne from the list of the dirtiest cities. Every little commitment counts!