Tauschhaus 2.0 draws a positive balance

In 2025, well-preserved items were once again given a second life at the Jena Municipal Service's Swap House 2.0. A total of 85.6 tons of goods were handed in. 69.3 tons of these could be reused directly - this corresponds to a reuse rate of 78%. A further 18% or so was sent for recycling (mainly paper) or thermal recovery. There was no waste in the narrower sense.

Erfolgsmodell Tauschhaus in Jena: Bücher sind beliebteste Tauschware.

© KSJ

The swap house service was used by 32,962 customers in 2025. Around 156 tons of CO₂ were saved through reuse - equivalent to the annual emissions of around 78 average cars.

As in previous years, books are the most frequently exchanged category of goods: 45.7 tons were brought in and 28.5 tons were returned.

Household goods are also in high demand - porcelain and glass (10.4 tons), toys (6.5 tons), decorative items (5.0 tons) and kitchen items (4.1 tons) were among the items that found new owners in 2025.

Tauschhaus 2.0 is a free platform: items in good condition can be handed in free of charge and taken away for private use free of charge. The project was realized in a new format together with the Saale Betreuungswerk of Lebenshilfe Jena gGmbH.

Items accepted include

• Books, magazines, media (CDs/DVDs/records), games & puzzles
• Children's items (e.g. toys, baby carriages, bicycles, chairs)
• Household goods (e.g. crockery, glasses, cutlery, pans) and decorations/flower pots

The following are not accepted

• Clothing,
• furniture,
• electronic devices (including (video) cassettes)

Location and opening hours

The Tauschhaus 2.0 is located at Löbstedter Straße 68 (on the KSJ premises) and is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 17:00.

More information on the KSJ website.