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Essen

Solarpunk ideas and local initiatives growing in Essen.

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Initiatives: 1
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Essen on the map

Initiatives in Essen

Hofflohmärkte Essen: Viertel court market day

Courtyard flea markets in Essen neighbourhoods Essen joins the Hofflohmärkte network with rotating Viertel days, for example Rüttenscheid and surrounding districts. Residents sell from private Höfe while visitors follow the tour plan. Saturdays 10–16, Sundays 11–16 where listed. When & where - Seasonal schedule on the city page; tour plan PDF about one week before each date - Approximate pin: Rüttenscheid centre (51.4378, 7.0059), tour spans the Viertel How to participate - Browse the published tour plan as a visitor or register your courtyard on Hofflohmärkte Essen About Hofflohmärkte Neighbours register a private courtyard on Hofflohmärkte Essen and sell used goods on scheduled Viertel days. Sales stay on private ground only. See Spielregeln & Tipps. Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. Source: Hofflohmärkte · City: Hofflohmärkte Essen · Rules: Spielregeln & Tipps. Platform operator: René Götz, participants organise their own courtyards.

Nearby in the Cologne region

Ideas and initiatives from neighbouring cities in the wider Cologne area.

Ideas across the region

Community Cologne

Walk Cologne with the Zero Waste Schweif

A playful city stroll: you choose the time Grab the Schweif booklet and one to four friends, then wander your Kiez with small tasks that help you spot waste, reuse, and resources in everyday streets. No tour guide: you set the pace. How it works - Pick up a booklet at partner cafés, unverpackt shops, or Zero Waste Köln info stands (hours vary by location). - Work through quizzes and observation prompts designed in Cologne, usable in any urban neighbourhood. - Optional deep-dive facts on the project page after you have tried the riddles yourself. Why it matters Cologne burns roughly 2,000 tonnes of waste every day; the Schweif turns that abstract number into curiosity about what we throw away and what could stay in the loop. Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. Project and pick-up map: Zero Waste Schweif · Organiser: Zero Waste Köln e.V.

walking education local

Food & Garden Cologne

Get a Biotonne: close the compost loop

The simplest “zero waste” win in Cologne About 40% of what lands in the grey residual bin is compostable organic waste. In Niehl it is burned: costing money, CO₂, and fertile matter that could return to parks and gardens as torffreier Kölner Kompost. What you can do - Ask your landlord for the free brown Biotonne (tenants can use Zero Waste Köln’s postcard template on their project page). - Line the bin with newspaper, keep it in the shade, and skip “compostable” plastic bags: they need industrial conditions Cologne’s plants do not offer. - Buy Kölner Kompost or Blumenerde from AWB/AVG outlets (the Verein advocates more neighbourhood pick-up points). Why it matters Separate bio collection has been mandatory in Germany since 2015, but Cologne households still need to request the bin. Less bio in residual waste can mean a smaller (cheaper) grey bin. Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. Facts and advocacy: Biotonne & Kompost · Collection rules: AWB Köln · Organiser: Zero Waste Köln e.V.

compost circular local

Community Cologne

Swap clothes with Team Tausch

Tauschen statt verbrennen: swap instead of burning Team Tausch runs small and large Kleidertausch events across Cologne. An estimated quarter of wardrobe pieces never get worn; locally, thousands of tonnes of still-wearable textiles are incinerated each year. Swapping keeps joy in fashion without the waste. What happens at a swap - Bring clean, good-condition clothes you no longer wear; take home something new-to-you. - Volunteers help with setup, guest welcome, sorting on racks, and (at larger events) a textile repair corner. - Many evenings end with music and drinks at partner venues such as the Wohngemeinschaft. Join in - Drop in as a visitor: dates are on the event calendar. - Volunteer for a 4-hour shift (no fixed commitment); cafés and community spaces can host new locations. Why it matters Swapping keeps wearable textiles out of incineration and builds neighbourhood joy around fashion without new purchases. Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. Details: Kleidertausch-Events · Kalender · Organiser: Zero Waste Köln e.V.

swap fashion volunteer

Community Cologne

Bring Zero Waste into schools

Education as a lever for less waste Zero Waste Köln works in schools and out-of-school settings so young people learn separation, avoidance, and circular thinking: not guilt, but practical habits. Current offers - Bildungskoffer (in development with Universität Köln): a lending kit on waste, avoidance, and sorting for primary schools. - Schulausstellung “Zero Waste Parcours”: travelling exhibition formats (see project pages for availability). - Public talks and VHS evenings listed on the calendar. For teachers and parents Reach Team Schule/Bildung via bildung@zerowastekoeln.de for visits, materials, and volunteering (pedagogy helpful, not required). Why it matters Young people who learn separation and avoidance early carry those habits into adulthood, multiplying impact across households. Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. Bildungsarbeit · Bildungskoffer · Organiser: Zero Waste Köln e.V.

education schools cologne

Initiatives across the region

STADTRADELN: ride for team Zero Waste Köln

21 days of everyday cycling for Cologne STADTRADELN is a city competition: log bike kilometres instead of car trips, 10-30 June 2026 in Cologne. Join the “Zero Waste Köln” team and add your rides to the collective tally. Why join Every kilometre counts: especially trips you would otherwise take by car. The Verein uses the campaign to show visible climate action alongside their waste work. How to sign up Follow links on the organiser’s event page and STADTRADELN Köln. Source & repost Solarpunker reposts this listing. Campaign: Klima-Bündnis / city teams · Promotion: Zero Waste Köln e.V. · Kalender

Summer swap at the Wohngemeinschaft

Neighbourhood Kleidertausch with Team Tausch Four dates in 2026 at a favourite swap venue: bring what you no longer wear, browse the rails, stay for music and drinks. When & where - Sunday 14 June 2026, 15:00-17:00 CEST - Richard-Wagner-Str. 39, Cologne (Wohngemeinschaft) What to bring Clean, wearable clothing in good condition. No ticket sale: swap logic, not a shop. Source & repost Solarpunker reposts this event listing; Zero Waste Köln e.V. organises it. Event page · Kalender

Glass rescue along the Pride parade

Help return Pfand glass during Cologne Pride Zero Waste Köln collects deposit bottles along the CSD parade so they re-enter the Mehrweg system instead of street-side residual bins. When & where - Sunday 5 July 2026 (all-day along the CSD parade route) - Cologne city centre, exact meeting point still being planned (map pin approximate) How to join Email aktionen@zerowastekoeln.de to get updates. Whether volunteers walk in the parade or run a static collection point is still being decided: either way, expect a high-energy, high-impact day. Source & repost Solarpunker reposts this event listing. Event page · Kalender · Organiser: Zero Waste Köln e.V.

Sew your own market bags at IGLU

Upcycle fabric scraps into everyday reusables Turn old textiles into drawstring produce bags or waxed bread pouches: skills you can use at any unverpackt shop. When & where - Tuesday 14 July 2026, 18:00-20:00 CEST - IGLU, Sudermanplatz 1, 50670 Cologne (Agnesviertel) Practical info - €5 contribution - Register: aktionen@zerowastekoeln.de - Fabric available on site; bring a favourite scrap if you like Source & repost Solarpunker reposts this event listing. Event page · Kalender · Organiser: Zero Waste Köln e.V.