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Clean Grilling in Cologne's Parks: The Grill-Scouts' Mission
In the sunny days of summer, Cologne's parks are a popular spot for picnics and barbecues. But with this popularity comes the challenge of waste management and maintaining cleanliness. That's where the Grill-Scouts come in.
The Grill-Scouts, employed by the waste management department of Cologne, are a team of around 25 dedicated individuals who work tirelessly to ensure that the city's green spaces remain clean and pleasant for everyone. They are on duty every weekend and on public holidays, patrolling the parks and providing assistance to park visitors.
The Grill-Scouts' approach is designed to dispel any fear of encountering an authority. They communicate with people in a casual, non-confrontational manner, asking park visitors about the location of in-ground containers for waste disposal and distributing trash bags for picnic and grill waste.
Their mission is simple: to keep the parks clean and free of litter. Last year, the Grill-Scouts in Cologne distributed 31,399 trash bags and had 5,286 contacts.
Grilling in Cologne's public parks is common, and many parks provide designated barbecue areas with appropriate trash disposal options nearby. Visitors are expected to clean up after themselves and use the bins provided accordingly. Bringing your own trash bags for leftover charcoal and grilling waste is advisable if bins are not immediately available, and always ensuring proper disposal is essential to keep the parks clean and compliant with local regulations.
Elsewhere in Germany, the story is different. In Hamburg, more and more districts are checking the rules and imposing high fines for wild grilling. Meanwhile, in Berlin, several thousand residents started a petition this summer demanding a "respectful use" of the grill area in Volkspark Friedrichshain.
Despite the challenges, the Grill-Scouts in Cologne continue their work, walking up to 20 kilometers in a day to keep the parks clean and enjoyable for all. And their efforts are often met with positive reactions, with some park visitors even offering them food.
So, next time you're planning a barbecue in Cologne's parks, remember the Grill-Scouts and their mission. Use the designated barbecue areas, clean up after yourself, and dispose of your waste responsibly. Together, we can keep Cologne's parks clean and beautiful for everyone to enjoy.
- Maintaining a clean and beautiful environment in Cologne's parks is not just about the Grill-Scouts' mission, but also about adhering to the community policy that encourages home-and-garden lifestyle, including outdoor-living, while respecting the local regulations and lifestyle of the community.
- By following the city's employment policy, which includes the Grill-Scouts team, who work diligently to maintain the cleanliness of parks, and by adopting a responsible approach to grilling, such as using designated barbecue areas, cleaning up after ourselves, and disposing of waste responsibly, we can support a harmonious lifestyle in Cologne that balances nature and urban living.
