Environmental destruction in focus: The three from the garbage disposal are pitching in!

Environmental destruction in focus: The three from the garbage disposal are pitching in!

On June 28, 2025, the life of 16-year-old Dennis Kruse changed forever in the Cologne media landscape, although many still do not know that his story began in the ARD comedy “The Three from the Garbage Collection - Mission Future”. The film, which was directed by Hagen Bogdanski in 2020, grippingly deals with the topics of environmental awareness and generational conflicts. The young activist's complex personality is shaped by his experiences during a week-long internship at garbage collection, where he was able to express his passion for climate protection. How ARD media library reports, the story makes clear how deeply personal destinies are interwoven with the big questions of our time.

In “Mission Future”, Dennis Kruse (played by Ben Litwinschuh) is obliged to do an internship in order to avoid conflicts with his superior, the character Werner Träsch (played by Uwe Ochsenknecht). The production was filmed in Berlin between September 17th and November 14th, 2019 and premiered on May 29th, 2020 on ARD with an impressive audience of 4.57 million. This meant that the film was able to achieve a market share of 16%, like that Wikipedia supplemented.

Insight into the plot and characters

The film tells of Dennis’ beginnings in garbage collection. At first he shows little interest in the topic of waste disposal and has big plans for the future, which often conflict with the ideas of the older generation. Werner Träsch, who is suffering from the loss of his wife, not only experiences a generational change through the turbulent time with Dennis, but also begins to feel hope and joy again in the form of a budding relationship with colleague Gabi Hertz (Adelheid Kleineidam).

An important part of the plot is Dennis' relationship with his classmates and his preparation for exams with Ralle (Jörn Hentschel), which shows that despite his initial rejection of garbage collection, he ultimately not only wants to improve his school material, but also overcomes very personal challenges. The film is not only about problems with waste disposal, but also about Dennis's family difficulties, who is forced to move in with his grandparents.

Climate protection in focus

The film also addresses the movements and initiatives that advocate for climate justice. In the context of this problem, the project of Federal Association of Youth and Film (BJF), which has made it its mission to present films that raise awareness of the climate crisis. These films can not only serve to educate, but can also be used as a basis for discussion at events that deal with these relevant topics.

Through its successful combination of entertainment and serious social issues, “Mission Future” offers a valuable contribution to the discussion about sustainability and responsibility. The mix of humor and profound insights gives us all something to think about our role in the face of global challenges. Be inspired by Dennis’ journey and think about what you can do for a better future!