What simply has to work

There are things in life that simply have to work - as a matter of course, reliably, day after day. Our colleagues at Kommunalservice Jena (KSJ) stand for precisely these things. 24 hours a day. 7 days a week. On today's Day of Services of General Interest - June 23, 2025 - we would like to remind you how important these services are for our daily lives and the functioning of the city.

More than garbage cans - a strong team for Jena

The first of around 270 KSJ employees are on the road in Jena from as early as 5:00 am. They empty rubbish bins and litter garbage cans, clean streets and squares, remove graffiti, repair traffic lights, keep roads clear in winter and maintain urban green spaces and the Jena Forest. These tasks often seem inconspicuous in everyday life - and yet they ensure what is known in administrative jargon as municipal services of general interest: the basic provision of services to the city's society.

From sustainability to urban cleanliness

"Over 300 years ago, the Saxon mining governor Hans Carl von Carlowitz formulated the idea of the sustainable use of resources. His ideas are regarded as the origin of the concept of sustainability. The concept of services of general interest may be younger, but it has been around for almost 100 years and is more relevant than ever. Both - sustainability and services of general interest - are inextricably linked, says Uwe Feige, Plant Manager KSJ."

A heartfelt thank you: on this day, we would like to thank all 420 KSJ colleagues for their dedication, commitment and contribution to a clean, functioning and liveable Jena - in front of and behind the scenes, in all weathers and at all times.