Excursions to the Schill barracks and the Lippe Plant met with a positive response

On 9 September 2025, more than 40 people went on an excursion to the Schill barracks in Wesel. On 16 September 2025, an equally large number of participants travelled to Lünen to the Lippe Plant, Europe's largest recycling facility.

Both events were quickly fully booked and met with a very positive response. The excursions are to be offered again next year in 2026.

Excursion to the Schill barracks in Wesel: security and defence

Following the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, the topic of defence has become the focus of political decisions in the EU. This fact prompted EUROPE DIRECT Bocholt to organise an excursion to the nearby Schill barracks, where German soldiers serve in a multinational environment.

Christian Arendt, lieutenant colonel and commander of the 1st NATO Signal Battalion and the longest-serving German officer at the Wesel site, welcomed the group of visitors together with two staff sergeants. The participants were given an insight into the organisational structures of the Bundeswehr and NATO, as the 1st NATO Signal Battalion is based at Wesel.

This is one of the three NATO Signal Battalions headquartered in Mons, Belgium. The units are responsible for providing modern IT communications equipment such as telephony, networks, satellite links and video conferencing technology for NATO missions and exercises. After a presentation with numerous interesting questions, the visitors had the opportunity to visit the site.

Excursion to Europe's largest recycling plant in Lünen: circular economy and climate protection

The excursion to Lünen was all about sustainability: even on the bus, drinks were offered in bottles that are not recycled but reused. The packaging of the sweets on offer was placed in a special container for recycling, correctly separated from the cardboard box in which EUROPE DIRECT Bocholt brochures were transported.

After arriving in Lünen, the participants were given an overview of the products that are manufactured at the Lünen site from the waste delivered, such as binding agents made from gypsum produced in flue gas desulphurisation plants, in the "recycling forest" at the head office. By using this recycled material, natural gypsum deposits and thus the environment are protected.

During the subsequent bus tour of part of the 230-hectare site, the guests learnt more about the possibilities of modern recycling. Up to 1000 lorries drive onto the site every day, bringing waste such as old batteries, fridges, animal carcasses, packaging material and much more. Recycling contributes to the goals of the EU's Industrial Green Deal, which aims to achieve climate neutrality.

EUROPE DIRECT Bocholt is delighted with the lively participation and positive feedback after both excursions.

About EUROPE DIRECT Bocholt

EUROPE DIRECT Bocholt is part of the mayor's office of the city of Bocholt and is the local point of contact for questions relating to the European Union. Its task is to provide local citizens with information, advice, help and answers to questions about Europe. In addition, EUROPE DIRECT Bocholt aims to promote European involvement and provide information on current European political events.