January 31, 2025, 8:51 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Whether on beaches, in city centers, or even in nature reserves, illegal garbage dumps can be found in almost every country—with devastating consequences for nature and wildlife. This is why fines are imposed in many countries. TRAVELBOOK reveals the penalties that environmental offenders face in various vacation destinations.
From carelessly discarded drinks cans to old chewing gum, waste is thrown away just as quickly as it is created. However, it doesn’t always end up in the designated bins. As t-online has now discovered, the offense of illegal waste disposal is sometimes associated with high penalties in the following countries.
Japan
To avoid unpleasant surprises, travelers to Japan should always carry a plastic bag with them. The reason is that while garbage cans can be found in many places in Germany, there are hardly any opportunities to dispose of waste in public areas in Japan. Instead, most locals take their garbage home with them. At the same time, there is a strict waste separation system that distinguishes between drinks bottles and combustible waste. According to
Japanwelt you can expect heavy fines of up to 3900 euros or even a prison sentence of up to five years.
USA
In the United States, too, there are considerable penalties for violating the applicable waste disposal laws. Whether it’s a cigarette butt or an empty drinks can, in some states in the US, you have to pay a hefty fine for littering. According to the NCSL, the fines range from 150 dollars to community service and even imprisonment. The extent of the penalty varies from state to state. While Massachusetts mainly imposes fines, Louisiana even revokes driving licenses in some cases for violations of the littering law.
Australia
When it comes to waste disposal, there are no compromises in Australia. Even throwing away cigarette butts in public is strictly punished here. According to in-australien.com, you can expect a fine of several thousand Australian dollars. Anyone who breaks the rules on waste disposal in the state of New South Wales can also be sentenced to prison. In addition to violations of the smoking ban, littering that threatens the environment is also punished particularly severely.
Singapore
In the Southeast Asian city-state of Singapore, which is also considered one of the cleanest cities in Asia, there are also strict rules on littering. According to Faz, anyone who leaves even a small amount of garbage lying around carelessly can expect a fine of around 94 euros. If it is newspapers or drink cans, however, the fine increases almost tenfold. At the same time, polluters can be ordered to collect litter. Smoking is also strictly prohibited in many public places and carries a fine. If you are caught while chewing gum in Singapore, you can even expect a fine of almost 350 euros.
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Germany
What few people know: There are consequences for littering not only in faraway countries, but also in Germany. Anyone who spits chewing gum on the sidewalk or throws away cigarette butts can be fined between 10 and 150 euros, depending on the city. If the offense has particularly far-reaching consequences for the environment—e.g., if toxic chemicals are involved—the fine can also vary between several thousand euros and a prison sentence. And even leaving behind dog waste is punishable in Germany. According to the city of Cologne itself, for example, the fine is between 35 and 500 euros.