Cork collection

Collecting corks for crane conservation

Cork collection at the Recycling Center North: Since July 2022, (natural) corks from wine bottles can be handed in at the Recycling Center North to support the protection of cranes. Kommunalservice Jena (KSJ) is registered as a secondary collection point for corks with NABU (Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union) Hamburg. By recycling the cork material, cork oak forests in the wintering areas of the cranes are preserved and ecological insulation material is obtained. This benefits nature, the environment and the climate in equal measure.

Collection balance: 750 kilograms of cork since 2022

At the end of November 2025, colleagues at the Recycling Center North handed over a large quantity of collected corks to the Naturschutzjugend Jena (NAJU). Since the campaign began in 2022, a total of 750 kilograms have been collected - more than 30,000 bottle caps. NABU uses the proceeds from the sale of the insulating granulate to support crane conservation projects in Spain - the home of the cork oaks - and Germany. The aim of the conservation work in Spain is to preserve the traditional cork industry and thus the unique landscape of the Dehesas.

The collection volumes at a glance:

• 2022: 150 kilograms
• 2023: 140 kilograms
• 2024: 200 kilograms
• 2025: 250 kilograms (new record, steady increase)

Collect and dispose of - simple and straightforward

Corks can be placed in the brown collection garbage can during the opening hours of the Recycling Center North. The garbage can is emptied regularly and the contents handed over to the NAJU. This puts environmental protection and resource conservation into practice.

The collection will continue in 2026

The KSJ would like to thank all supporters and looks forward to every additional cork collection. In this way, we will continue to contribute to environmental and species protection in the future.