Berlin and Bremen intensify actions against cigarette‑butt litter

From 29 June to 5 July 2026 Berlin will carry out a city‑wide enforcement week targeting illegal disposal of cigarette butts. The ordinance office will conduct checks in uniform and plain‑clothes, and offenders face fines of €250 to €3,000. The measure builds on higher penalties introduced in November 2025 and aims to raise public awareness and improve street cleanliness.

In Bremen’s Hemelingen district, volunteers held the sixth “Kippenmarathon” to collect discarded cigarette butts. Participants gathered several kilos of waste and compete for a €3,000 prize, which is donated to the local Kulturgarten Dammerbergstraße club. The event, organised by the city cleaning service and district marketing, highlights ongoing concerns about the environmental impact of cigarette waste, which the WHO estimates amounts to roughly two‑thirds of all litter worldwide.