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Hamburg, October 8 – The city of Hamburg maintained its cleanliness levels in 2025, according to the latest annual Cleanliness Monitoring report. The report, released by the Senate, indicates that despite challenges, the city’s cleaning efforts have been largely successful, with an increased focus on penalizing littering.
Stable Cleanliness Across the City
The Hamburg City Cleaning Department is responsible for maintaining approximately 8,000 kilometers of roads, 3,300 kilometers of sidewalks, 12,600 waste bins, and 32 square kilometers of playgrounds, green areas, and recreational facilities. In 2025, their efforts were as successful as the previous year. The report states, “The Hamburg City Cleaning Department achieved significant improvements through intensified cleaning services, targeted priority measures, and close management of responsibilities.”
The cleanliness is assessed using a nationally recognized evaluation system, which assigns points between one and 30, with lower scores indicating greater cleanliness. The Senate aimed for a score of nine points but achieved an even better 8.3, exceeding the target by 0.7 points.
Challenges and Improvements in Specific Areas
Despite the overall positive trend, some areas continue to pose challenges. Locations around paper and glass recycling containers, bus stops, and green verges are particularly affected by carelessly discarded waste. Conversely, the situation at Elbstrand (Elbe Beach) and around the main train station has improved compared to 2024. The installation of new waste bins, especially in playgrounds, has also shown positive effects.
A project successfully piloted in the Horn district, known as “wall-to-wall cleaning,” is set to be expanded. This initiative involves establishing temporary no-parking zones in several streets to allow for more thorough cleaning of roadways, gutters, and sidewalks.
Stricter Penalties for Littering and Increased Enforcement
To address the ongoing issue of illegal waste disposal, Hamburg is implementing tougher penalties for littering. This includes significantly higher fines for discarding cigarette butts, chewing gum, dog waste, and bulky refuse. The city also plans to deploy more “WasteWatchers” to enforce these regulations.
Environmental Senator Katharina Fegebank (Greens) commented on the situation, stating, “Hamburg is at its most beautiful when it is clean. Our City Cleaning Department works tirelessly every day to keep Hamburg clean.” She emphasized that carelessly discarded waste and illegal dumping remain a major nuisance, necessitating a combination of prevention, clear communication, and substantial fines. “Anyone who simply dumps their rubbish in public spaces acts unsolidary and must face tangible consequences,” Fegebank added.
In 2025, a total of 14,741 warnings and fines were issued for violations, marking an increase of 2,631 compared to the previous year. Revenue generated from these warnings and fines rose to 674,291 Euros.
Public Awareness and Future Initiatives
The city continues to encourage residents to dispose of their waste responsibly. The increased fines and enforcement efforts are part of a broader strategy to maintain and improve urban hygiene standards. The success of initiatives like the “wall-to-wall cleaning” project highlights the city’s commitment to finding innovative solutions to waste management.
Further information on the Cleanliness Monitoring report for 2025 is available from the Hamburg Senate and the City Cleaning Department.
Source: https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/hamburg/hamburgs-sauberkeit-2025-bleibt-stabil,sauberkeit-100.html
