Again and again, hobby gardeners dispose of waste from tree cuttings at the nearby edge of the forest. These so-called wild landfills cause high expenditure for municipalities and communities every year. It can also be expensive for the polluter.
Tree cuttings must not be disposed of in nature
disposal options
Natural and untreated wood, which is produced when pruning trees, can always be disposed of in the organic waste bin. Exceptions are possible, because every public waste disposal authority has other recycling options. Check with your local authority or your disposal company for information on which guidelines apply.
Where to dispose of tree clippings:
- horticultural businesses: undertake cutting work and subsequent disposal
- pruning container: are suitable for large quantities of tree cuttings
- recycling yard: often allow free disposal in limited quantities
Renting a container is the ideal option when you need to fell a tree. In addition to tree trunks, you may dispose of stumps, roots, twigs and branches in them. Adhering soil or leaves may be put in the container in small quantities.
Reuse in the garden
With a shredder (€199.99) you can shred the tree cuttings and then put the material on the compost. Branches and twigs are ideal for mulching tree discs and beds. If you want to create a raised bed for the balcony, you can use shredded wood residues as well as leaves and green waste for layering.
What costs can arise
If you use a shredder, you can expect one-off acquisition costs of around 500 euros. Disposal in a pruning container costs about 150 euros each time. The local waste disposal company usually does not incur any costs for smaller quantities, although there may be differences between regions.
Wild dumps
Removing the tree cuttings at the edge of the forest is considered an illegal crime. Although the material is biodegradable, it can have negative effects on nature and disturb the communities of animals and plants. Pollutants play less of a role when pruning trees, so there is usually no danger to soil and water.
The effects on human well-being, on the other hand, are of greater importance. In some areas, the dumping of tree cuttings in forests and bushes impairs the recreational function of nature, because the garbage dumps do not look particularly nice.
Fines for unauthorized disposal
Depending on the federal state, there are different fines for illegal disposal. These also depend on the quantity. A distinction is made between the volume of a bucket, a trunk and a truck load. The lowest penalties for small charges in Schleswig-Holstein are five to 20 euros. Fines of up to 2,000 euros are possible in Bremen and Hamburg. Unloaded quantities that exceed one truckload can cost up to 2,500 euros in Saarland.
tips
You should never dispose of waste wood such as railway sleepers together with tree cuttings, as this can be contaminated. Professional disposal via the recycling center is planned for this.