Municipality informs about requirements in the buffer zone – green waste may not be disposed of
NAUHEIM – The Japanese beetle ( Popillia japonica ), a pest introduced from Asia, is also spreading in southern Hesse and poses a threat to agriculture, horticulture, forestry, and viticulture. Since an infestation has been confirmed in the neighboring municipality of Trebur, the Giessen Regional Council (Hesse Plant Protection Service) has issued a general order. Parts of Trebur are now considered an infestation zone, and Nauheim is classified as a buffer zone.
Mayor Marc Friedrich points to the increasing introduction of non-native species through trade and travel: "The consequences range from health risks to significant economic damage. This makes monitoring, rapid reporting chains, and public cooperation all the more important."
Requirements for Nauheim from August 29
- No green waste will be accepted at the public works yard until September 30, 2025
- Green waste may not be disposed of in private garbage bins.
- Grass and green waste should be stored on one’s own property.
Inspections are carried out by the Public Order Office, the Public Works Department, the Volunteer Police Service, and the police. Violations can be punished.
Farmers and plant companies are also required to regularly monitor their plots within a radius of 100 meters and to immediately report any beetle findings or suspicious symptoms to the Hesse Plant Protection Service.
The aim of the measures in the buffer zone is to prevent the Japanese beetle from settling and spreading further. Information and identification aids are provided by the municipality of Nauheim at www.nauheim.de and by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
