Through their respective waste management companies; the Abfallwirtschaft und Stadtreinigung Freiburg (ASF) and the Abfallwirtschaftsbetriebe Münster (awm), Freiburg and Münster are focusing on how to deal with new pressures in the sector.   

On paper, the match is straightforward: the two cities are similar in size, have large student populations, similar natural habitats and a long track record in sustainability. 

But what makes this pairing work, is where they stand on specific innovation topics, one being more advanced than the other and vice versa, meaning that valuable lessons can be shared.  

Quote: “On some issues, Freiburg is already further along,” says Dr. Christoph Baumann, the head of innovation for awm. “That gives us something concrete to learn from.”

The Twinning also works on a personal level, as both Christoph and Veit work in similar positions and have a background outside of waste management.  

For both participants, the value is simple: talking to someone who gets it. Municipal waste management doesn’t operate like a regular business. It comes with public responsibilities, strict legal requirements, and constant legal and societal change. 

In that setting, it’s not always obvious what the right choices are, especially when it comes to investments. Hearing how others approach the same questions makes a real difference, helping them weigh sustainability against what is actually economic viability. 

Waste management in 2026 is not only about collecting and disposing of collected waste. The challenges are broad and influenced by fast moving technological advances, societal behaviour, market trends and regulatory adjustments. From the changing regulation and markets in textiles to critical reflections on recycling centres or even a look inwards at the internal structures, there’s no shortage of topics. Adaptation strategies and offers are at the core of the discussion.  

One example is the new potential of AI to support the work conducted by the municipal waste companies. There are new possibilities: in services for the citizens, the actual collection process and the daily operations of the companies.  

A lot of it is unchartered water, so the twinning helps in exactly this.  

The highlight from the first meetings for both participants is the relationship they were able to build in a short time. With both acting with a high intrinsic motivation and bringing in fresh perspectives starting in their position as outsiders, it clicked.  

“We can talk about real problems on an equal footing,” Dr. Christoph Baumann. 

Combined with their expertise and the support of Twinning programme, their exchanges quickly felt useful. 

While the exchange has already been fruitful, both Veit and Christoph are already thinking about how to take it to the next level. Including more colleagues with a less cross-cutting background in specific topical exchanges would be one way to make the programme even better but what both really want is to visit each other. This would allow to understand both the technical infrastructure as well as the organisations and overall elevate the programme to the next level. 

Both keep it simple: 

Veit recommends “Don’t just think about it, actually do it” as the potential value of such activities can be immense, especially if there is a clear time commitment such as one hour per month for a meeting included to make it manageable.  

For MWC’s in particular, Christoph recommends taking advantage of the openness between municipal actors in the sector to tap into the innovation already happening. 

The Twinning Programme brings together a pair of cities or regions to exchange experiences and tackle circular challenges together. Each pairing is based on thematic alignment and a similar level of circular experience. Over a period of 6 to 9 months, Twins meet 5 to 7 times in structured sessions to learn from each other and address concrete challenges through practical solutions. Each exchange is guided and supported by a dedicated expert facilitator, ensuring focus, continuity and tangible outcomes.