Stakeholders from the recycling industry recently gathered at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences to engage in discussions with one another and with the university administration. In attendance were the deans of the faculties involved in environmental studies, representatives from the Institute for Process Development, Peat, and Natural Materials Research (iTN), as well as interested representatives from the cooperating recycling industry, led by the Saxon Recycling Industry Association (LVR) in Dresden. All attendees emphasized the importance of recycling, particularly in addressing current challenges in environmental protection. Applied research on recycling will therefore continue to be conducted and expanded at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences in cooperation with companies. This stems from the recycling industry’s increased need for well-trained specialists and research services.

Dr. Lohmann from the LVR e.V. and representatives of the recycling industry highlighted the outstanding societal importance of material and energy recycling in a modern circular economy. The recycling industry is currently expected to grow by more than 10% per year, as increasing recycling rates is a stated environmental policy goal.

An energy-efficient circular economy is a key driver of social and economic change. Only in this way can resources be conserved sustainably and other environmentally relevant issues—such as climate protection—be effectively addressed and resolved. In this context, the high and steadily rising demand within the recycling industry in Saxony—and particularly in Upper Lusatia—for good research and highly educated, committed graduates was also emphasized.

Dr. Wuschke (Scholz Recycling GmbH Espenhain) emphasized the importance of existing collaborations between industry and the HSZG. Not only does the university offer high-quality, discipline-specific education, but with the iTN Zittau, it also has a high-performing research institute dedicated in particular to the study of application-oriented processing methods. Mr. Handschick of Steinert Unisort GmbH Zittau considers the active integration of HSZG into the various administrative and professional networks, as well as into the training consortium for environmental and recycling technology, to be indispensable.

Particularly in the fields of technical environmental protection and recycling, the HSZG offers excellent conditions for teaching and research. Good-equipped laboratories enable high-quality research into energy recovery and material recycling. This represents a benefit for the entire region—both for science and for the transfer of that knowledge to businesses and the economy. The HSZG plans to accelerate this area of research and continue to expand it in line with market needs. As a result, the HSZG is and will remain an important partner for and within the region.

For young people, studying subjects related to the circular economy or environmental and recycling technology opens up attractive job and career prospects. This is because qualified and good-trained experts are needed to build a strong recycling industry in Saxony and, in particular, in Upper Lusatia. The HSZG imparts this specialized knowledge in an innovative and engaging way.