Since Monday, Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences and Arts has been presenting the results of current research projects in the fields of waste and recyclables logistics, recycling, material recovery and efficient resource utilisation at the Hannover Messe. As part of the research project "Recycling 2.0 - The Recyclable Materials Turnaround", innovative solutions for securing the supply of raw materials are being sought together with universities and companies from all over Germany. The focus is on the recycling of valuable waste and the recovery of the raw materials it contains.

On Wednesday, Mark Schwarz from Nordthüringer Werkstätten gGmbH visited the exhibition stand and learnt about the results so far. From August onwards, Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences, together with the Institute of Psychology at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Südharzwerke Nordhausen and Nordthüringer Werkstätten gGmbH, will start field trials on the return of small electrical appliances.

Using the model region of Nordhausen as an example, the aim is to investigate how people can be motivated to properly return small electrical appliances that are no longer needed. Furthermore, new collection options will be developed and made available to local residents. At the moment, many small electrical appliances end up in the residual waste bin. As residual waste is usually incinerated without pre-treatment, important raw materials such as rare earths or technical plastics are irretrievably lost.

This topic is an important factor for Germany as a business location, especially in times of dwindling raw materials. In the further course of the "Recycling 2.0 - The Recyclable Materials Turnaround" project, the results achieved in the Nordhausen model region are to be transferred to other regions. Talks are currently being held with stakeholders from Berlin to ensure that the research results from the Nordhausen model region are transferred to the Berlin region in a timely manner.

Another focus is on the presentation of new sampling methods. For example, a machine is currently being developed in the "Bale Sampling" project in collaboration with the company Schulz & Berger Luft- und Verfahrenstechnik GmbH from Altenburg. This machine can be used to automatically sample plastic waste pressed into bales. This makes it possible to assess the quality of the plastics contained in the bales better and, above all, faster.

The work is based on Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences' many years of experience in sampling difficult bulk materials. In recent years, two methods for sampling have already been patented and standardised: the press and press drilling methods. A fully functional model of the bale sampling machine can be viewed until Friday at the joint stand "Research for the Future" (Stand A38 / Hall 2) at the Hannover Messe.

Interested pupils, skilled workers and students can find out about the wide range of degree programmes offered by Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences.