70+ Volunteers Transform Halle's Galgenberg After Winter Waste Crisis
Spring Clean at Galgenberg: 70 Volunteers Free Halle's Green Lung from Carpets, Bikes, and Careless Litter
The city of Halle (Saale) is showing its cleanest side—at least in the areas where helpers from the municipal utility company have already rolled up their sleeves. Last Thursday, over 70 volunteers swapped their office chairs for grabber tools to rid one of the city's most popular recreational spots of winter's leftover waste.
Galgenberg is usually a picture-perfect idyll: the Galgenberg gorge hosts concerts, while the playground and skate park draw families and athletes alike. But a closer look revealed a less charming legacy hidden among the first signs of spring. That's why, on March 26, it was time to roll up sleeves for the annual spring clean organized by Stadtwerke Halle (SWH).
Under the expert guidance of specialists from Hallesche Wasser und Stadtwirtschaft GmbH (HWS), volunteers from across the Stadtwerke Group fanned out across the area. Equipped with vests, gloves, and trash bags, they combed through the terrain.
Peter Günther, managing director of HWS, emphasized that this effort goes far beyond day-to-day operations: "We have a clear service mandate to clean streets and paths—but not green spaces. Today, we're specifically targeting the winter's leftover mess."
Oddities in the Underbrush: From Shopping Carts to Bras
Some of the discoveries made during the cleanup left volunteers shaking their heads. Alongside the usual glass bottles and packaging, teams unearthed some truly bizarre "treasures": old carpets, discarded bicycles, furniture, and even shopping carts had found their way into nature. The day's tally also included peculiar items like clothing—including a bra.
This thoughtless dumping is a thorn in Peter Günther's side. His message to Halle's residents is clear: "Greater awareness would make our work so much easier." A clean city, he stresses, starts with each individual responsibly disposing of their waste instead of abandoning it in nature.
HWS: 365 Days for Quality of Life
While special initiatives like the Galgenberg cleanup send an important signal, HWS's work is a marathon, not a sprint. Their responsibilities range from emptying public trash bins and winter road maintenance to disposing of dog waste and Christmas trees.
For those who want to do more than just join cleanup efforts—and perhaps turn environmental protection into a career—the municipal utility company offers exciting opportunities. Whether as an environmental technician specializing in waste management or as a professional driver, the search for dedicated talent to keep Halle clean continues year-round.
Info Box: Helping Yourself Help the City
Anyone looking to get involved or dispose of bulky waste can find all the information they need on the HWS website or in the "Mein HALLE Zuhause" app. Once a year, the mobile cleaning unit also visits residents free of charge to wash out residual waste and organic waste bins.
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