Opening of Umwelthaus Jena - hands-on place for children and young people

How do waste separation, recycling and sustainable action work in everyday life? The new environmental house of Kommunalservice Jena (KSJ) provides answers to these questions. It was opened by KSJ plant manager Uwe Feige and Kathleen Lützkendorf, Head of Social Affairs, Health, Immigration and Climate of the City of Jena on 01.04.2026 at Löbstedter Straße 56.

A place for living practice

The Umwelthaus is aimed particularly at children and young people and focuses on practical environmental education. Instead of pure theory, the focus is on taking part and trying things out. The exhibition clearly shows how waste is correctly separated, what material cycles are involved and why this is crucial in everyday life.

One highlight is the pulling course: on different surfaces, visitors can experience just how demanding the work of waste collectors is. The offer is supplemented by vivid comparisons and concrete figures that illustrate the dimensions of waste volumes in Jena. For example, how many times could the JenTower be filled with the amount of paper collected in a year? Such facts illustrate the dimensions that are being worked with here.

The close cooperation between the players involved shows what can be achieved together. It is a great gain for Jena that an educational location has been created here that makes the interplay between nature and sustainability tangible and makes it tangible for future generations," says Kathleen Lützkendorf.

The new environmental house bundles and expands the KSJ's environmental education programs. These include tours of waste collection vehicles, insights into the container washing facility and visits to the recycling center, glass storage facility and transshipment hall. In total, more than 1,200 groups have taken advantage of these offers since 2012.

"Getting children excited about the environment plants the seeds for a sustainable future," says plant manager Uwe Feige, explaining the KSJ's commitment.

Thanks to employees

Special thanks go to the employees involved, especially the trainees from the Public Greenery department, who played a key role in designing the outdoor area of the Umwelthaus.