From September 14 to 19, RETech accompanied the ISWA Study Tour in Berlin, Rostock, Lübeck, and Hamburg. The aim of the week was to give young international experts in the field of waste management an insight into Germany’s successful recycling practices and the planning, financing, and operation of sustainable, decentralized waste management systems. Technical discussions, lectures, and tours provided practical examples of how innovation and the circular economy are being implemented in Germany.
As part of ISWA-Germany, which RETech represents together with the DGAW, RETech organized the first two days of the program in Berlin. The kick-off workshop took place at the Haus der Kreislaufwirtschaft (House of the Circular Economy), where participants were given an overview of the historical development of the German waste sector, discussed current challenges, and exchanged valuable experiences. This was followed by visits to REMONDIS Recycling, where around 500,000 refrigerators are recycled annually, and the Haus der Materialisierung (House of Materialization) – a place that promotes reuse and repair.
In Rostock, Prof. Dr. Michael Nelles, head of ISWA Germany and member of the RETech board, gave a lecture at the University of Rostock on the role of the circular economy in climate protection. The program was rounded off with a tour of the Rostock municipal waste management recycling center, a mechanical-biological treatment plant (Veolia), a sorting plant for packaging waste (MRF), and a composting plant (Rostock municipal waste management).
At the end of the tour, participants gained impressive insights into the Ihlenberg landfill site and MVR Müllverwertung Rugenberger Damm GmbH in Hamburg, where the focus was on large-scale waste treatment and recycling. The week provided information on proven waste management solutions and also offered valuable opportunities for international exchange.
