House of Representatives - CDU parliamentary group: Berlin must become cleaner
Berlin must become cleaner from the CDU-faction's perspective in the Berlin House of Representatives. The degeneration of public spaces has significantly increased in the past few years, according to a ten-point paper that the parliamentarians adopted at their caucus meeting in Oberursel. This not only concerns the question of how to prevent illegal trash in public, but also the issue of abandoned cigarettes, careless disposal of food in public areas, or broken glass bottles.
Planned Taskforce Trash-Investigators
"Consistent enforcement of illegal trash disposal, starting with a discarded cigarette, thoughtless disposal of food in public areas, or shattered glass bottles, must become a priority for Berlin's law enforcement agencies in the future," the resolution text states. A Taskforce Trash-Investigators is planned to be established for better monitoring and consistent enforcement of illegally disposed waste.
The CDU-faction explicitly welcomes the planned update of the fine catalog for environmental offenses and higher fines for environmental violations and the illegal disposal of trash and debris. What's important is consistent application. "High fines can only be deterrent if they are actually enforced through focused inspections and consistent prosecution," the caucus text states.
Cameras could monitor hotspots of illegal trash disposal
The parliamentarians call for the establishment of a think tank of experts from the relevant senate administrations and districts to develop measures against illegal waste disposal. Hotspots of illegal trash disposal should at least sporadically be monitored with wildlife cameras for the protection of the environment and to deter potential offenders, the CDU parliamentarians demand.
Additionally, the fraction urges the senate to check whether the opening hours of the BSR-waste disposal sites' locations can be extended, especially on weekends. Longer opening hours would offer more flexibility to citizens. This could also contribute to reducing illegal dumping.
- The issue of abandoned cigarettes in public areas, mentioned in the ten-point paper, falls under the larger problem of neglect in Germany's public spaces.
- Despite the planned establishment of the Taskforce Trash-Investigators in Berlin, the CDU-faction emphasizes the importance of consistent application of fines for environmental offenses, including the illegal disposal of cigarettes.
- The CDU parliamentarians in Hesse, who adopted the ten-point paper, also propose monitoring hotspots of illegal trash disposal with wildlife cameras, including areas prone to careless disposal of cigarette butts.
- To address the problem of illegal dumping, the CDU-faction in Berlin suggests extending the opening hours of BSR-waste disposal sites, particularly on weekends, which could encourage more responsible disposal of cigarette waste and other trash.
