19th Circulation and Landfill Workshop Zittau-Liberec 2023

The 19th Circular Economy and Landfill Workshop Zittau-Liberec 2023, which took place on September 21 and 22 in Zittau, in the Peter-Dierich-Haus, was held under the motto "The plastics industry in transition to a circular economy" .

The workshop was jointly organized by the ZIRKON of the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences and the NTI of the Technical University of Liberec.

This lecture and specialist discussion event is the result of many years of in-depth cooperation between the two universities across national borders and was held in German and Czech with simultaneous translation.

We welcomed participants from our partner institutions in Stuttgart, Braunschweig, Karlsruhe, Freiberg, Dresden, Leipzig, Potsdam, Liberec and Prague. The workshop was held for the 19th time this year. This demonstrates continuity and perseverance in this field of research across national borders! For almost two decades now, ZIRKON and the NTI have been contributing their expertise and perspectives to the scientific discussion in both countries. A wonderful testimony to our cross-border cooperation and a strong symbol of coexistence in the three-country region.

After an inspiring presentation by Prof. Dr. Marc Kreuzbruck from IKT Stuttgart on the challenges of the recycling cycle, other German and Czech experts spoke on the topics of waste prevention, waste separation and waste management.

The Circular Economy and Landfill Workshop is characterized by its interdisciplinary approach . It brings together perspectives from authorities and research. Plant operators and waste producers come together to discuss and exchange views on problems that require joint processing and solutions. Particular attention is paid to the legal aspects. Whether country-specific landfill and contaminated site regulations or EU law with its scope of application for both countries - the aim is to compare and contrast the engineering view with the legal view. In addition, there are political decisions such as the Green Deal that need to be implemented. In addition, the renaming of the workshop as the Circular Economy and Landfill Workshop also opens it up to recycling and plant engineering.

I wish you much success, enjoyment of the exchange and a certain passion for the cause - in the truest sense of the word. You can look forward to a series of specialist presentations, discussions and excursions. And don't be afraid to think in terms of visions or utopias. Courage, curiosity and always a certain amount of risk are at the heart of a researcher and entrepreneur. That's what I wish for all of us!

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kratzsch, Rector HSZG

Around 80 international experts from science, administration and practice took part in the workshop in person. This workshop thus replaced the online format of the last three years and once again gave the speakers and participants the opportunity for a direct and personal exchange of experiences, which was continued on the evening of September 21 in a cozy atmosphere in the "Wirtshaus zur Weinau".

After two exciting days, which were characterized by interesting presentations, lively discussions and good encounters, I would like to thank Prof. Sturm and his team for organizing this year's workshop. I am pleased to extend the invitation to the 20th Circular Economy and Landfill Workshop 2024 in Liberec today.

Doc. Ing. Jan Sembera

We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the success of the workshop on and behind the stage. Special thanks go to the interpreters, who did a great job!

Photos: HSZG ZRIKON (Thomas Krause)