No advertising please – Join us in putting pressure on the Ministry of the Environment

The new waste law took effect at the beginning of 2024: One of the important changes is that from now on, you are no longer allowed to receive advertising in your letterbox unless you clearly indicate that you want it by putting a sticker on your door.

Unfortunately, the law is unclear in many respects – and it is also not always respected.

As Mouvement Ecologique, we have been informed of the following situations:

• Advertising in daily newspapers: There is an increase in advertising in daily newspapers, which is allowed by law. However, as Mouvement Ecologique, we are seeking a dialogue with the Luxemburger Wort.

• Anouncements from parties, associations or the municipality: These are allowed by law. As Mouvement Ecologique, we also support this provision because we believe that associations, parties, etc. are an important part of community life and also of democracy. We also believe that some people want to receive this information, even if they do not want advertising in principle.

• Free newspapers: The publishers often claim that this is not advertising, but is mainly informative. The Ministry of the Environment has now informed the Mouvement Ecologique that they also interpret the new law in this way: a free newspaper is not considered advertising unless there are separate advertisements in it (and are not printed). As Mouvement Ecologique, we find this view absolutely indefensible and are considering taking action.

• Notes attached to cars, especially by real estate agents and car dealerships: this is clearly forbidden. However, the Environment Agency only ‘intervenes’ when it is reported to them.

We call on you:

We need to put pressure on the Ministry of the Environment and the administration. They only process complaints that are reported to them via guichet.lu. Therefore: show that you do not agree with the current situation.

Please report your complaints using the following link: https://guichet.public.lu/en/citoyens/justice/voies-recours-reglement-litiges/plaintes-administratives/plainte-aev.html

Unfortunately, the link is called ‘complaints’. This expression is not entirely appropriate, because it does not mean that you are taking further legal responsibility. You are merely drawing the administration’s attention to an infringement that you believe has taken place. After that, the ball is in the administration’s court. We have said several times that we think the name of the page should be changed, but unfortunately without success.

In any case, thank you for submitting your complaints to them, so that the matter is finally addressed. You are welcome to inform us by email, which will result in: meco@oeko.lu.

We will keep you informed.

02.10.24