Dispute over gift crates: City adheres to strict rules!

Dispute over gift crates: City adheres to strict rules!

in Leipzig are set up in many streets boxes that are "given away" with the imprint. These gifts are increasingly popular with residents and users on social media who praise their potential contribution to resource conservation and waste prevention. But the city administration sees the provision of these boxes an administrative offense and has set up clear rules.

According to the regulations of the city, fines can fluctuate between 5 and 100,000 euros, depending on the quantity and the content. The punishments are particularly high when it comes to dangerous materials. Matthias Laube, head of the Leipzig regulatory office, explains that such fines are typically imposed on violations of the circular economy and soil protection law, but dangerous materials such as asbestos plates or waste oil are rarely found in the gift boxes. The city continues to refer to existing laws and consider the parking of the boxes on sidewalks as an unauthorized special use of public space, which in the worst case could lead to prison terms.

popularity and criticism of the regulations

The city's regulations have already led to criticism and satirical reactions. The former Green City Councilor Martin Meißner published a satirical video in which he is arrested for a gift box. In this video he describes the boxes as a positive contribution to sustainability and environmental protection. The Green politician Paula Piechotta also reacted to the problem and made a small request to handle the boxes. Despite the criticism, the city administration adheres to its regulation and is not planning any changes because the correct use of public space is of great importance.

The number of ads related to giving boxes is currently unclear because the city has not published any separate surveys on this topic. Since the beginning of 2024, however, there have been a total of around 1,500 advertisements in waste rights, of which around 1200 come from special waste detectives that provide information on violations.

alternatives to give away

Despite the many gifts, there are alternative approaches that are funded by environmentalists and social workers: inside. Exchange cabinets and social goods department stores offer more sustainable opportunities to pass on used objects. All donations, especially electronic devices, are checked for defects before accepting. Katja Eckert, an employee of a social goods center in Leipzig, describes the process in which defective or damaged items are sorted out and the donors are asked to dispose of them.