25 years of the Celle waste disposal association: A day for the environment and family!

25 years of the Celle waste disposal association: A day for the environment and family!

Yesterday, on June 22, 2025, the Celle Waste Purpose Association (AZV) celebrated an event that was all about environmental awareness and community. On the occasion of its 25th anniversary, the AZV invited people to an open day at the waste disposal facility in Altencelle. The visitors could look forward to a colorful program that offered both informative stands and an exciting family program. Celle press reports that the topics of waste disposal, climate protection and sustainability were the focus and were clearly conveyed by the experts.

The city of Celle presented what it is doing in the area of ​​climate protection at its own information stand, while Christina Ruge from the consumer advice center showed the guests how transport routes and storage times of food influence the climate footprint of fruit and vegetables. Tips for seasonal shopping and how to properly deal with best-before dates were discussed lively.

A celebration for the whole family

Numerous activities and exhibitions made the day a real experience. The RadRetterCelle initiative showed various offers relating to bicycles and e-bikes. Traffic safety advisor Karsten Wiechmann from the Celle police station provided information about the dangers caused by the limited field of vision in the driver's cab of a truck. The highlight for many children was the opportunity to see garbage trucks and container systems up close - and even move garbage cans at the push of a button!

Experts were on hand to explain the recycling process of green waste, which is converted into high-quality, certified compost. When deliveries were made, every citizen could take home free compost while supplies lasted. Entertainment was also provided: the North German samba formation Samba Beija Flor provided lively sounds while children had fun on the bouncy castle, carousel and in the sand play area. Gastronomic offerings rounded off the day and made it a true all-day excursion for the entire family.

Sustainability in focus

Konrad Heemskerk, the new managing director of the AZV, was pleased with the great interest of the population and the variety of activities. “Environmental and resource protection begins on our own doorstep,” emphasized Heemskerk. He also announced that the locations in Hermannsburg and Hambühren are to be renewed. These measures are in line with current developments in waste management, which have increased continuously since 1990. According to the Federal Environment Agency Today, more than half of household waste, including waste paper, glass and organic waste, is recycled.

Improving waste management is of great importance not only locally but also at European level. In 2022, almost 2 billion tons of waste were treated in the EU, and the amount of waste recycled increased by 40.6 percent. This shows that waste recycling is becoming more and more important and contributes to reducing CO2 emissions. According to that European Parliament Recycled waste accounted for more than half of the total waste generated in 2022.

The anniversary of the Celle Waste Purpose Association was not only a look back at 25 years of dedicated work in the area of ​​waste management, but also an outlook on the challenges that will arise in the future, which must be addressed with a clear focus on sustainability. Citizens' interest in such initiatives shows that awareness of their own responsibility in waste management is growing and that people are willing to make their contribution.