Trash or treasure? Lübz projects for a sustainable future!

Trash or treasure? Lübz projects for a sustainable future!

At Fuchsberg in Parchim, waste disposal specialists recently ensured that the collection point for waste paper and glass was brought back into shape. But the joy is only short-lived: illegally dumped household waste, which probably came from a move, was dumped there again. This is particularly unfortunate since there is an official collection point for such waste at the port, as nordkurier.de reports.

What is the perspective for such challenges? Architect and transformation researcher Martina Dreßelt also sees the current misery as an opportunity for a modern circular economy. She emphasizes that the goal should be to use resources in a future-oriented manner and to promote sustainable action. One approach that can be implemented effectively is the structural development measure (SEM), which shows how a circular economy can be designed in rural areas.

Community involvement

A central success factor for the implementation of initiatives is the participation of the residents. Dialogue sessions and network meetings are intended to help actively involve citizens. More and more young people are recognizing their key role in implementing these concepts. For example, old textiles were saved in the Lübz workshop and made into pillows by the mayor. Projects like vintage fashion and food swaps are thriving and fostering new ideas and communities.

Dreßelt also plans to continue the SEM in order to further develop Lübz as a sustainable location. For example, found picture frames should be given a new place in the “Elde counter” filled with photo motifs. Such creative solutions are essential to effectively address the increasing amounts of waste and the challenges of the circular economy.

Circular Economy: A Global Challenge

The problem is not only important locally, but also globally. The amount of waste is increasing rapidly around the world and around two billion people have no access to regular waste collection. Waste such as plastic waste and electronic waste pollutes the environment, the climate and human health. According to the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), growing mountains of waste are among the four biggest challenges of the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The aim is to ensure the proper collection and disposal or recycling of waste in order to reduce the pressure on the environment, as explained on bmz.de.

In order to achieve these goals, measures to avoid waste, reuse and recycle are required. The step in the right direction could be to support the development of strategies and legal regulations for a comprehensive circular economy, especially in cities, where more than half of the people live and resources are consumed. Skilled workers should be trained and trained in order to create sustainable business models and “green” jobs.

Overall, it can be seen that the development of a National Circular Economy Strategy (NKWS) is gaining momentum. In 2023, four dialogue formats took place to discuss the objectives for the circular economy. The detailed discussions took place at the invitation of Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke, and a wide range of stakeholders were involved, as bundesumweltministerium.de reports. This commitment at multiple levels is a good indicator that the circular economy path can be implemented.