Ostalbkreis: This is how the sidewalk becomes an exchange for treasures!

Ostalbkreis: This is how the sidewalk becomes an exchange for treasures!

In the Ostalbkreis, new trends in dealing with unused everyday objects are emerging. Instead of throwing them in the trash, these things are simply placed on the sidewalk to bring joy to others. An example from Aalen shows that a worn-out stroller found its new purpose in the city park for several days with the note “To take away”. This form of recycling is intended not only to protect the environment, but also to reduce the waste costs incurred for disposal. This gives unused things a second chance without incurring any fees.

In Essingen, residents simply left all sorts of things that they no longer needed on the sidewalk for months. These items were referred to as “crust and clutter” – a clear example of the creative form of recycling that is taking root here. There are also similar efforts in Heubach. There, residents place items they no longer need, such as clothes hangers or dusters, in a special alley where interested parties can take them.

Risks and new initiatives

Until now, leaving items outside of one's own property in Germany was considered to be dumping rubbish and was therefore illegal. However, there are now efforts to change this. The initiative “The Great Gift”, which is under the patronage of District Administrator Dr. Joachim Bläse is intended to create a legal basis and give such initiatives more space. The district administrator himself emphasizes the need to share things with each other in order to reduce waste and improve the quality of life. In addition, a new category in the garbage calendar is being considered, which could be titled “The Ostalb treasure hunt on the street”.

In keeping with this, we are planning an accompanying philosophical lecture series entitled “Giving is the new having”. This is intended to inspire citizens to use their resources more consciously and to strengthen the feeling of community. In this context, the region can really use the “Clean Ostalb” initiative.

The clean Ostalb

The problem with garbage in the Ostalbkreis cannot be denied. Mountains of rubbish are multiplying everywhere, be it from fast food cups, broken glass or cigarette butts in playgrounds. This unpleasant situation led to the founding of the “Clean Ostalb” initiative. Supported by 42 cities and municipalities as well as the Gesellschaft für waste management mbH (GOA), those responsible want to make the region more livable. The motto “Environment obliges everyone!” shows how important citizen participation is.

As part of this initiative, citizens are asked to take action: be it by avoiding waste, shopping locally or as volunteer garbage sponsors - every little action counts. District Administrator Dr. Bläse emphasizes that clean streets and squares can significantly improve citizens' attitude to life, which is enormously valuable in today's world.

A look at waste prevention

In addition to the local initiatives, there are also overarching goals for waste prevention that are pursued as part of the circular economy. According to the Federal Environment Agency, measures to avoid waste are being established at various levels. A central goal is to decouple economic growth from waste generation. This includes, among other things, reducing the amount of waste and reducing harmful substances in materials and products.

Sustained awareness and sensitization of the population are crucial to achieve the intended goals. Researchers are continuously working on measures to avoid waste and are developing approaches to prioritize waste streams. The development of indicators to measure the success of waste avoidance shows that careful use of resources is required.

The combination of local initiatives and general waste prevention programs is therefore a promising strategy to combat the waste problem in the Ostalbkreis and at the same time increase the quality of life. With a lot of commitment and creativity, citizens could make their contribution and perhaps even contribute to the fact that “giving” will soon be more valued than “having”.