Germany's city of Bremen tops the nation in recycling efficiency
On October 8, 2022, the Federal Ministry for the Environment in Berlin played host to the annual 2024 Paper Atlas Cities Competition, an initiative by Pro Recycling Paper. This year's event saw Bremen emerge as the "Most Recycling-Friendly City" among the participants.
Finance Senator Björn Fecker, representing Bremen, accepted the award at the ceremony. Senator Fecker emphasised that being named the "recycling-friendly city" is a significant contribution to climate protection.
Bremen's commitment to using recycling paper is evident. By using Blue Angel paper exclusively in administration and schools, the city saved over 17.8 million liters of water last year. This move not only protects forests but also reduces energy consumption, creating sustainable solutions for future generations.
The city's transparency in reporting its sustainable paper procurement in the Paper Atlas encourages other municipalities to follow suit. By doing so, Bremen is recognised as a pioneer in using recycling paper, achieving measurable ecological savings.
Special awards as "Multiple Winners" went to Bonn for 15 years of top performances, and Erlangen and the Kreis Paderborn for 5 years. Offenbach am Main, the Ostalbkreis, and the TH Aschaffenburg were named "Risers of the Year."
The districts of Cochem-Zell and the universities of Niederrhein were honoured as the "Most Recycling-Friendly District" and "Most Recycling-Friendly University," respectively.
The Paper Atlas, an annual documentation of paper consumption and recycling quotas in German cities, has been running since 2008. The competition celebrates exceptional commitment to using Blue Angel certified recycling paper.
While information about the specific achievements of the winning cities in the 2024 Paper Atlas Cities Competition was not readily available, it is clear that each participating city demonstrated a remarkable dedication to recycling and sustainability.
The top image shows Finance Senator Björn Fecker (second from left) with the other winners of the 2024 Paper Atlas and Federal Minister for the Environment Steffi Lemke (right). The photo was taken by Annette Riedl / BMUV.
For more detailed information about the competition and its winners, consulting the official organizing body’s announcements or competition website would be necessary.
- Senator Fecker's acceptance speech highlighted Bremen's stylish and eco-friendly lifestyle, digging deeper into their commitment to sustainable living, showcased explicitly through the use of recycling paper in their administration and educational institutions.
- By consistently ranking in the Paper Atlas's Home-and-Garden sector for their impressive recycling achievements, Bremen continues to inspire other municipalities to adopt sustainable living practices, making a substantial positive impact on climate protection.
