Circecon: In Lusatia, Waste Is to Be Turned Into New Raw Materials
CircEcon is making the circular economy ready for industrial application: Four universities in Saxony are pooling their expertise on the circular economy at the "Schwarze Pumpe" industrial site. A center for recycling difficult-to-recycle composite materials is being established here in Lusatia.
We know that it is necessary to keep raw materials in circulation so they can be reused multiple times. But putting this into practice continues to present challenges—for example, the reuse of composite materials made of metals, plastics, and fiber fabrics.
How can we better adapt sensor systems for sorting waste streams to the new materials of the future? What disassembly steps are necessary to dismantle cars, refrigerators, and washing machines—ideally fully automatically—and recover functional replacement parts? What processes can help us reuse the carbon bound in waste residues during thermal recovery? Can recycled plastics be processed in a standard machine? Scientists from Chemnitz, Freiberg, Dresden, Zittau, and Görlitz, along with regional companies and experts, will soon find answers to these questions together at the CircEcon—Center for Green Circular Economy—site in the “Schwarze Pumpe” Industrial Park.
At CircEcon, researchers and users will be able to replicate the entire life cycle of composite materials, plastics, and aluminum at a single location and use modern data management to record performance metrics such as energy consumption and the use of resources and personnel. Newly developed plant components can be tested and optimized in an industry-like environment without causing production downtime.
“CircEcon, with its team spread across four locations, demonstrates that collaboration focused on the circular economy—with the goal of establishing a joint scientific institution—is possible. At the Zittau / Görlitz University of Applied Sciences (HSZG), the core team—comprising scientists, project managers, administrative staff from various departments, and project leadership—is working closely together to establish a research factory of the future for the region at the Schwarze Pumpe site in Lusatia,” said Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Tobias Zschunke, member of the HSZG Executive Board
- What is the current status?
On the construction site, the structures of the building sections are already visible from a distance. At the same time, the procurement of building services equipment at the universities is in full swing. In Zittau, too, specifications are being drawn up and bidding processes are underway. We’re constantly fine-tuning details and studying the construction company’s latest drawings to ensure everything fits into place. Project proposals are being written and consortia formed for the start-up phase—in short: minds are racing and keyboards are glowing.
- About CircEcon
Strengthening the circular economy and achieving greenhouse gas-neutral energy production are fundamental building blocks for conserving resources and combating climate change. This requires the further development of production technologies and products that enable sustainable, climate-neutral circular management. With “CircEcon,” a research facility for sustainable circular economy is currently being established at the “Schwarze Pumpe” industrial park in the Spreetal district (Saxony).
By fostering collaboration between research and industry, this innovation center will support the transformation of the Lusatian region—which has been dominated by lignite until now—into a region with sustainable economic sectors. This joint scientific institution, which is scheduled to begin operations in 2027, is supported by four Saxon universities and colleges: the Universities of Technology of Dresden, Chemnitz, and Freiberg, as well as the Zittau / Görlitz University of Applied Sciences.