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.
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.
