Upcoming Trade Shows Essen, Germany for Environment & Waste

Essen has spent the past thirty years heavily investing in its environment and waste management industry, and the most recent chapter in this journey is the waste water project for the Emscher and Ruhr rivers. Historically, these rivers bore the brunt of industrialization, untreated wastewater from the thriving steel and coal industries being dumped into them. The legacy of pollution in the Ruhr area dates back to the rise of steel production and coal mining in the tenth century. The Emscher River, in particular, became a repository for industrial and residential waste, turning its 865 square kilometer basin into one of Germany's most polluted river systems. By the 1990s, two-thirds of Essen’s wastewater was still being channeled through the Emscher. Now, Essen has greenlit a variety of blue infrastructure projects aimed at revitalizing these vital waterways and enhancing the city's resilience to climate change. Recognizing the urgent need for change, the Emschergenossenschaft, a public water management association, was established in the 1990s to spearhead the conversion of the Emscher. This multi-generational project, which began in 1992, aims to construct underground water systems while restoring the natural landscape and enhancing biodiversity above ground. The transformation is particularly evident in the northern part of the city, where a former sewer has been re-naturalized into a clean river within a local recreation area. The scale of this project is immense. Across the Ruhr region, 400 kilometers of new sewers have been laid, with 45 kilometers within Essen’s municipal boundaries. These efforts have led to the re-naturalization of surface streams, ensuring they are free of wastewater and capable of supporting diverse ecosystems once again. This restoration not only improves the quality of life for residents but also strengthens Essen's capacity to adapt to the increasing impacts of climate change.