The German federal government has decided against decriminalizing the practice of “dumpster diving” a tactic employed to retrieve discarded, edible food, according to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture. The decision, revealed on Monday in response to inquiries from the dts news agency, stems from the absence of such a provision within the current coalition agreement.
The discussion surrounding decriminalization previously surfaced during the prior legislative period but ultimately stalled due to conflicting opinions among the federal states. Consequently, any advancement towards decriminalization now requires initiative from those same state governments.
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Justice further clarified that existing provisions within the German Code of Criminal Procedure already enable prosecutors to dismiss investigations into cases deemed “minor offenses”. The spokesperson emphasized that, given the typically low value of the recovered goods, investigations are generally initiated only upon formal request.
“Dumpster diving” often undertaken by activists or individuals in need, involves the removal of food items from refuse containers, frequently those used by supermarkets to dispose of products for economic reasons. Legally, however, such actions are often classified as theft.
