The production of virgin fiber paper consumes much more energy and raw materials than is the case with recycled paper. This is reason enough for SAS to operate an impressive paper hall, where waste paper is collected and prepared for delivery to recycling companies. Thus, the paper hall is a symbol of change – towards a more sustainable city.

The 560 square meter hall plays an important role as a collection point for waste paper. Cardboard from the collection containers emptied by SAS, as well as paper and cardboard from household bins, pile up here. Drop-off on-site is also possible – whether from private households, offices, or businesses: the drop-off point at the recycling center on Ludwigsluster Chaussee remains the same. "The paper delivered to us is sorted into different qualities. This is because cardboard cannot be used to make new writing paper as well as higher-quality paper can; instead, it is turned back into cardboard," explains SAS Managing Director Andreas Lange. "Paper and cardboard are materials that can be very well recycled because they are collected very cleanly and sorted in households. Paper and cardboard can be recycled 10 to 12 times in a cycle to make new cardboard or new paper."

The concept of the paper hall is simple but effective: on-site, the paper is sorted, pressed, and then processed into large paper bales and distributed to paper mills throughout northern Germany. This way, it is prevented from ending up in residual waste and is instead recycled effectively.

By recycling waste paper, valuable resources such as wood and water can be conserved. This is resource conservation at its best and an important concern for SAS.
The Schweriner Waste Disposal and Street Cleaning Company has created a sustainable and forward-looking project with the paper hall in Schwerin, which can serve as a model for other cities and municipalities. Annually, around 300 to 400 people visit SAS, including technicians, engineers, and scientists. They tour the recycling center and also the paper hall.
For kindergartens or school classes, it is always exciting to climb into a collection vehicle or stand on the truck scale together. When a paper bale is weighed later in the tour and compared to the children's total weight, there is often great amazement – as such a bale can easily weigh 600 kilograms.