„Waste Management for a Clean Environment“

Given the importance of waste management for a clean environment, its important role in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the interest of international students in the process of waste management, STUBE Niedersachsen led an excursion to the waste treatment centre in Hannover-Lahe on 5 March 2024. The visit there was organised by Andreas Kurschat (in charge of STUBE Niedersachsen at the KED) and Maureen von Dassel (in charge of development-related educational work at the KED).

The aim of the excursion was to practically understand how a large amount of garbage can be disposed of, how different types of waste are collected and treated. An employee of the Waste Management Association of the Hannover Region (aha) showed the participants all the areas in which waste is sorted and processed, with the focus on the mechanical-biological plant for residual waste, the composting plant for organic waste and the composting plant for green waste. A long and insightful discussion about waste management in Hannover-Lahe developed.

The result of the treatment of organic and green waste is compost that can be used as a natural fertiliser for private gardens and public parks. The residual waste is being separated into coarse parts and fine parts. The coarse parts are sent to the nearby garbage incineration plant in order to produce electric power, the fine parts are fermented in order to gain gas that is used for the production of heat and electric power in a combined heat and power plant and thus reduce the amount of waste that needs to be taken to a landfill site.

In addition to the modern waste treatment plant, there is also a landfill in Hannover-Lahe. It is one of three landfills that are run by the Waste Management Association of the Hannover Region (aha). Its oldest part was created in 1937 by the City of Hannover as the Altwarmbüchener Moor central landfill and was used until 1982. Today it is considered an important recultivation project. It is sealed with a tarpaulin that protects against erosion and serves as a barrier against waste affecting the environment. The tarpaulin is covered with humus and plants. The resulting green hill is called Nordberg and is also popularly known as Monte Müllo. Although the height of the hill slowly decreases slightly due to natural subsidence and is measured regularly, due to recultivation the hill appears like a natural hill with certain flora and fauna.

Lilit Poghosyan

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