Circular economy live - one-week excursion in September 2025

From September 22 to 26, 2025, the Institute of Waste Management and Circular Economy conducted an excursion to a total of 14 destinations related to the waste and circular economy in Germany.

A total of 14 students were given an insight into practice. The route went via Freiberg, Leipzig, Fulda, Frankfurt and Herzogenaurach. They visited landfills, a residual waste incineration plant, recycling plants for various types of waste (including lightweight packaging waste), plastics processors, an automobile production facility and the headquarters of a consumer goods manufacturer. During all the visits, the students were able to learn about the importance of the circular economy for both ecological and economic sustainability. They also visited a site near Leuna where a clean-up of contaminated sites is currently being carried out.

The trip was sponsored with a grant of €840 from the Gesellschaft von Freunden und Förderern der TU Dresden e.V. for hiring the minibuses. We are very grateful for the funding, without which the excursion could not have taken place.

The biennial round trip is equally important for the students and the companies visited, as the former get to know future fields of work and the latter can make contact with potential employees. The topic of sustainability and independence through the circular economy will comprehensively transform the knowledge and information society.

Roman Maletz

(Text slightly modified)