Disrespectful handling of garbage: Cologne is fighting against the flood of waste!

Disrespectful handling of garbage: Cologne is fighting against the flood of waste!

In Cologne, the mood when dealing with waste is becoming increasingly gloomy, as Cordula Beckmann, spokeswoman for the Cologne Waste Management Company (AWB), reports. Despite the more than 23,400 wastebaskets in the city, the amount of garbage increases almost every year. The pandemic has not only failed to improve respect for waste management, but has actually worsened it. This is reflected, among other things, in the fact that more and more people are simply putting household items they no longer need out on the street, even though disposal offers a free service. The city then identified specific garbage hotspots that can be found in each district.

A not insignificant trend that is leading to this increase is the “Mediterranization” of the city. More and more people are using the squares and green spaces for local recreation, which also generates more waste. In this context, the AWB has found that (fortunately) there is no neighborhood that is particularly clean or dirty. Rather, the hotspots remain evenly distributed, which does not necessarily make the challenge for city cleaning any easier.

Cleanliness campaigns are increasing

At the same time, participation in the “Kölle putzmunter” cleanliness campaign has visibly increased. Last year there were 28,000 reports of litter, 4,000 more than the year before. Participating groups and individuals can actively participate in the campaign using a registration form. The AWB provides washable, reusable gloves and garbage bags and takes care of collecting the collected waste from the agreed location. This initiative is supported not only by the AWB, but also by various partners in Cologne. Particularly interesting: The Cologne EXPRESS media accompanies some of the actions and thus ensures further attention.

But not all attempts to reduce waste go smoothly. In many cases, “Give Away” boxes placed around neighborhoods end up with leftover items that are considered illegal trash. This has led to an increase in reports of illegal waste dumping, which represents a major problem for the everyday life of Cologne residents.

Waste avoidance as a social goal

On a broader level, something is also happening in terms of waste prevention. The Federal Environment Agency focuses on promoting the circular economy in order to conserve natural resources and protect the environment. The federal government has set itself the ambitious goal of halving per capita food waste by 2030. Various measures to avoid waste are currently being researched and implemented. This also includes the European Week for Waste Reduction, which is held annually in November and serves as a platform for numerous waste prevention campaigns.

The dialogue between different actors along the value chain is considered crucial. Only through joint action can sustainable solutions to avoid waste really work and the awareness gained for environmentally conscious use of resources can be further consolidated.

The situation in Cologne is challenging, but with the support of initiatives such as “Kölle putzmunter” and ongoing research into waste prevention, there could be a positive change of course. This shows that the city is becoming increasingly aware of its own responsibility and that it is time to work together on a clean future.