Recycling center 4.0: Wittenberge wants to get started with digitalization!

Recycling center 4.0: Wittenberge wants to get started with digitalization!

A meeting took place in Wittenberge between EU MP Christian Ehler (CDU) and District Administrator Christian Müller (SPD), which outlined not only local concerns but also European recycling standards. The two politicians visited the 30-year-old recycling center and discussed modernization plans that are of great importance for the region. Loud Northern Courier The development of a pilot project called “Wertstoffhof 4.0” is being discussed, which aims to digitize and completely renovate the facility.

The project is currently in its infancy: concrete costs and schedules are not currently available. Adrean Beckmann, Head of Economics and Infrastructure, emphasized how important it is to make the project citizen-oriented. There are a total of three small collection points in Prignitz, with the Pritzwalk and Perleberg locations having already been modernized. The recycling center in Wittenberge in particular is suffering from an urgent need for action. The conditions are anything but ideal: unsafe electrical systems, blocked garbage chutes and mold in the sanitary areas are just some of the problems that need to be solved.

No time to waste

“Wertstoffhof 4.0” is intended not only to promote renovations, but also to introduce digitalization. A hybrid operating model is planned that combines regular opening hours with staff and 24/7 use via an electronic gate and digital appointments. This concept aims, among other things, to reduce illegal dumping of waste and to ensure efficient acceptance. The district also hopes to have increased opportunities to access funding through the modernization concept. Beckmann points out that the EU regulations are difficult to comply with with the old system, which makes modernizing measures all the more urgent.

In this context, Christian Ehler warned against short-term solutions that could potentially lead to long-term cost problems. He offered his support in finding cooperation partners and appointments in Brussels. Ehler called for people to look for inspiration in other European countries in order to learn from successful approaches.

The European context

The modernization of the recycling center in Wittenberge is part of a larger trend that the EU is driving forward in waste policy. Loud EU environmental policy This aims to extract high-quality resources from waste and thus promote economic growth. The EU Waste Framework Directive plays a central role and defines a “waste hierarchy” for waste management.

Although the EU is making great efforts to increase recycling rates, statistics show that the average European produces around 5 tonnes of waste every year, of which only 38% is recycled. What is shocking is that in some EU countries over 60% of household waste still ends up in landfills. The ambitious goals of EU policy such as protecting the environment, transitioning to a circular economy and promoting innovation in recycling make the upcoming measures in Wittenberge all the more important.

A related EU-funded project, “Recycling 4.0,” relies on digital solutions and robotics to ensure full recycling of lithium-ion batteries from electric cars. The value of the raw materials should be preserved, which is essential for an efficient circular economy. The project takes Germany to the next level in the recycling sector and shows how transformation through innovation can actually work.