Illegal waste disposal drives up costs in Saxony's municipalities

Saxony's cities and districts have to spend a lot of money every year to remove illegally dumped waste. In Leipzig alone, the disposal of illegal waste cost more than half a million euros last year. The problem is also a big one elsewhere - and it is increasing in many places. This is shown by feedback from local authorities in response to an inquiry by Deutsche Presse-Agentur.

Illegal waste disposal is particularly expensive in large cities. In Dresden, the cost of clearing up waste has risen significantly within ten years - from around 135,000 euros in 2015 to almost 450,000 euros in 2024. This is also due to the fact that the number of registered illegal dumping sites has increased. However, the city points out that not all cases are discovered. Among other things, the administration cites changes in consumer habits, such as during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as temporarily closed recycling centers as causes.

The authorities in Chemnitz are also reporting a clear upward trend. The number of cases rose from 668 in 2024 to 993 last year. The costs are therefore likely to have risen from around 50,000 to around 67,000 euros.

Rural regions also heavily affected

Expenditure is also adding up in the rural districts. The district of North Saxony is expecting around 300,000 euros per year, the district of Zwickau around the same amount. In some districts with a lower population density - such as the district of Görlitz or the Erzgebirgskreis - the estimated costs are lower, but illegal waste dumping still ties up personnel and resources.

According to the local authorities, bulky waste and residual waste - including furniture, household items and packaging - are the most common items to end up in the countryside. Tires, electronic waste, construction waste and green waste are also regularly disposed of. Occasionally, hazardous waste such as paint, varnish or building materials containing asbestos are also discovered.

Who pays for the waste?

The costs are ultimately borne by the general public - either directly from local authority households or via waste charges. Many districts therefore rely on controls and fines. In Central Saxony alone, fines of more than 45,000 euros were imposed this year. Nevertheless, illegal waste disposal remains an expensive ongoing problem for Saxony's municipalities.