WHERE: Italy;
WHEN: Ongoing since October 2016
WASTE MANAGEMENT HIERARCHY: Prevention: Replacement – Reduction, Recycling: Reuse – Reprocessing
TYPE OF INSTRUMENT: Education, information, awareness raising
WASTE STREAMS: Municipal waste, Plastics, Paper, Textiles, Bulky waste

About: RI-USO Center  has been activated in collaboration with a social cooperative with the aim of promoting the direct reuse of goods that are thrown away and that can be directly reused and favoring initiatives to support the weaker sections of the population. The Association „Amici di Emmaus” manages since 1994, second-hand markets where people bring objects they do not use, like books, furniture, clothes, household items, sports equipment, various accessories, etc..

Objectives

The initiative aim is to change the citizens’ habit of throwing away reusable objects.

Resources

Material resources: weight scales for objects brought by citizens, implemented by the foundation
Human resources: The „Amici di Emmaus” staff, involved in the management of second-hand market, is present twice a week from 9 to 12 for the opening to the public.

Results

According to the official reports,  for the first period of activity from October 2016 to March 2018, the Center collected nearly 24.500 kg of goods. In the following table the conferred goods are listed according to the typology an a total of 24.430 kg: A – DIFFERENT OBJECTS: 5.415kg, B – BOOKS: 3.777 kg, C – FURNITURES: 5.444,5 kg, E – VARIOUS: 767,5 kg, F – CLOTHES: 5.363,4kg, L – ELECTRIC: 2.068 kg, N – SPORT & LEISURE: 1.594,8 kg. Regarding the sold goods in the 151 days of opening, the center registered 101 kg of purchases with € 181,57 of sales for every single day of public opening and a total amount of 27 417 euros: A – DIFFERENT OBJECTS: 8.304,90 eur, B – BOOKS: 2.926,60 eur, C – FURNITURES : 10.549,90 eur, E – VARIOUS: 134,60eur, F – CLOTHES: 1.258,60 eur, L – ELECTRIC: 2.475,10 eur, N – SPORT & LEISURE: 1.767,20.

Various initiatives to promote and disseminate the opportunities offered by the Center are prepared during the year thanks to the valuable contribution, in terms of skills and creativity of a group of volunteers in Civil Service and European Voluntary Service, who take care of the graphics and contents of the Facebook page and the Center’s promotional materials.

Urban metabolism relevance

The opening of the Center is part of a more complex project for the Municipality of Cremona, which concerns on one hand the initiatives for the development and support of the circular and solidarity economy, on the other the commitment to environmental protection policies and waste treatment.

Many objects that we normally buy for our home, for our entertainment, are not used, often the purchase of the good does not correspond to a need, or is old, however it is no longer necessary, so we throw it. “Centro del Riuso” ” is an opportunity for the citizens of Cremona to reduce their waste, to donate a reusable good helping people in need and also to support the reception and solidarity activities of the „Amici di Emmaus” Association.

Innovation

The innovation of the „Centers of the Riuso” consists in the commitment of the citizens, to actively participate as donors, as costumers, as volunteers, as operators to change the concept of waste “waste is a resource”. Without a strong involvement from citizens and several stakeholders, this project would not be successful.

Sustainability and replicability

The Reuse Centers becomes a spaces for circular culture. The re-use centers arises from the need to meet the weaker social classes, while reinforcing the waste reduction policies. Their operation is simple: citizens can bring you disused products and goods, from bicycles to washing machines, which offered on the market at affordable prices. Many Italian region moved with calls for proposals to implement the presence of reuse centers in the territory, to support the spread of a culture of reuse of goods, against disposable, with the aim of environmental protection and social solidarity, prolonging the life cycle of goods and reducing, consequently, the amount of waste to be sent for treatment and disposal.

These spaces, also in synergy with environmental, social, voluntary associations, can become the center of the other economy, with a great social value and in the name of sustainability. Brownfield sites are reborn in the city and can become a real citadel of social and solidarity economy, headquarters of companies that produce work in the name of a new economy which focuses on sustainability and the community.

Success Factors

Preparation of the site in an appropriate manner for the delivery, collection and sale of used but still usable goods, outside the waste collection and assimilated circuits.
Management of the center made by an already experienced association of second-hand markets. The staff has to be able to receive only consumer goods that are still in good condition (even from a hygienic point of view) and that can be effectively re-used for their original uses, purposes and purposes.

Key Challenges

• the reluctance of some citizens to reduce waste and re-use things
• the permanent supply of the Center
• expanding the Center to other locations
• attracting other institutions/organisations to support the project

Info

For more information, please check the deliverable, or contact the implementing body.

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