Roland Morel: The Environmental Center is the city’s go-to place for all questions related to environmental, nature, and climate protection. Residents can come here daily to seek advice and discuss their concerns with knowledgeable environmental advisors. For specific questions, they are referred to experts as needed. The Environmental Center is also a heavily used service facility offering city-issued trash bags, a book exchange cabinet, nesting boxes for birds and bats, a recycling station, and much more.

Roland Morel: “Out of the government office, and out to the people!” That was the motto in 1990 when the Environmental Store was founded. Demand for information on nature conservation and environmental protection was very high at the time—not least as a result of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. To adequately meet this demand, the easily accessible Umweltladen was established—after all, who wants to spend a long time wandering the hallways of a government office just to find the right person to talk to? And the concept of rotating focus topics is still going strong: Last year, for example, over 12,000 people sought environmental advice. We always develop the Environmental Center’s services from the perspective of those seeking advice, so that our offerings are as well-suited as possible to the specific concerns and needs of our citizens. In doing so, we rely heavily on collaborations with a wide variety of stakeholders in the city’s community, whether it’s RheinMain University of Applied Sciences, churches, or associations. 

Roland Morel: According to our visitor statistics, waste separation is still one of the top topics. People ask, for example, how to properly dispose of LED light bulbs or whether meat scraps belong in the general waste or the compost bin. Many questions also revolve around species conservation, such as bird feeding or nesting aids for birds and bats. The monthly Repair Café (opens in a new tab) is always very crowded. The repairers from the Repair Café on Tour have restored hundreds of toasters, blenders, electric razors, and other appliances to working order, earning beaming smiles from their happy owners. We’re especially delighted when school classes or daycare groups visit the environmental store. The children are usually very open to questions about nature, the climate, or even waste reduction. They share what they’ve learned with their families and thus serve as important advocates. 

Roland Morel: The Climate Café (opens in a new tab) probably isn’t very well known yet. Here, the Environmental Store and the Public Health Department have created a space to talk about how the climate crisis makes us feel. The idea behind this is that, in light of the climate crisis, more and more people are feeling worry, anger, helplessness, or despair. These conversations—moderated and taking place in a safe space—can serve as an outlet and provide relief.  

Roland Morel: Anyone who researches an environmental issue online often finds a wealth of information—much of it contradictory. And it’s not uncommon for commercial interests to be behind it. In short: It’s not always easy to find a reliable source online. The team of advisors at the Umweltladen, on the other hand, is friendly, knowledgeable, up-to-date, and non-commercial. And they address individual questions in a very targeted manner. This combination is what gives the team its high level of credibility. 

Roland Morel: I really enjoy walking through the Rabengrund and the upper Goldstein Valley. Both places are especially beautiful because they offer plenty of sky, tranquility, and sweeping views. For me, a more convivial way to enjoy nature is to play a game of boules at the Bierstadter Warte.