(Kirchberg/25.05.2022) On Monday, MEP Manuela Ripa from the Ecological Democratic Party (ÖDP) visited the municipal company "Rhein-Hunsrück Entsorgung" (RHE) in Kirchberg, Rhineland-Palatinate. The company is an institution of the Rhine-Hunsrück district and a public law institution. Ripa appeared at the invitation of Dr. Achim Baumgarten, ÖDP local council member in Simmer-Rheinböllen, and was accompanied by the numerous members of the ÖDP Rhineland-Palatinate and the ÖDP Koblenz-Mittelrheinau. Volker Bloch, who was elected as the new district administrator of the Rhine-Hunsrück district this year, was also present.

The Managing Director of RHE, Thomas Lorenz, explained to the politicians how "Rhein-Hunsrück Entsorgung" is excelling in the areas of climate protection, waste separation and bioenergy, thus making sustainability a top priority. In the last decade, RHE has invested 30 million euros in the circular economy, for example with the construction of three heating plants with local heating networks at school centers, the construction of an administration building as an energy recovery house and the construction of a 1.5 MW solar power plant on an old landfill site.

Manuela Ripa comments: "With the citizen electricity from Rhein-Hunsrück Energie available since July 2019, 'Rhein-Hunsrück Entsorgung' is making an important contribution to the energy transition in the region and making the regionally generated electricity from its photovoltaic system near Kirchberg on the local district landfill site accessible to everyone. By gradually developing into a local supplier of renewable energy, 'Rhein-Hunsrück Entsorgung' is keeping the added value in the region. It also serves as a model for other regions in Germany on how to involve and engage citizens in the energy transition."

The company is also exemplary when it comes to wind power and biogas. There are now 300 wind turbines turning in the district. In addition, the biowaste fermentation plant , which will be completed in 2021 and cost 19 million euros, uses organic and garden waste from households to ferment it and produce biogas and organic liquid fertilizer.

The MEP points out that Russia's attack on Ukraine has made the energy transition even more urgent. If all regions were as progressive as the Rhine-Hunsrück district, Germany would already be much further ahead on this issue. The ÖDP politician comments: "The Rhine-Hunsrück district is considered a model region worldwide in terms of climate protection and was awarded the title 'Energy Community of the Decade' in 2018 for the many energy projects implemented regionally. With its modern and innovative projects, 'Rhein-Hunsrück Entsorgung' is already implementing the concepts and regulations of the EU very well, for example by organic waste is not dumped in landfill wherever possible, but is processed into biogas and fertilizer. Untreated biowaste in landfills is responsible for three percent of the EU's greenhouse gas emissions due to methane production, which is why it urgently needs to be reduced. In this way, RHE is setting a good example in terms of sustainability and the switch to renewable energies."

After the tour of the Rein-Hunsrück Entsorgung site, the MEP was impressed by the company's efforts to convert our economic model to a circular economy. Manuela Ripa therefore agreed with those responsible at the company that they would remain in contact.