News
Grande collecte textile Solid'R
Since 1999, the ‘Ressources’ network has gathered social economy enterprises active in Brussels and the Walloon regions. These social economy enterprises are collecting various types of products, amongst which textiles and EEE, to put them back on the market through second hand shops. Old clothes are collected essentially through bring banks (3360 in 2012) and in second hand shops (about 60 in 2012). 60% of the collected clothes are reused, 25% are recycled and 15% are disposed. Some shops have implemented repair activities, but it remains marginal.
Moreover, in 2012, nine social economy enterprises from this network worked together in a common campaign during one week to encourage citizens to give their old clothes and weigh the collected clothes every day. Taking place during the European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR), this action had two aspects: awareness raising and second hand clothes collection. Awareness on reusing old clothes was made via the internet and a radio campaign and various activities among which, in 2012, an exhibition of "tuned" bring banks in Namur city center and on the campus of the Université Libre de Bruxelles, visits of sorting facilities and textile refurbishment workshops, etc. Moreover, the nine social economy enterprises acting on clothes reuse in Brussels and the Walloon regions have a common objective to raise awareness on the “Solid’R” label that identifies them differently from other clothes retailers. These social economy enterprises are: Terre – Les Petits Riens – Oxfam-Solidarité – Oxfam-Magasins du monde – La Poudrière – De bouche à Oreille - La ressourcerie le Carré – Rouf – La Fol'Fouille. As a result to the campaign, second hand shops saw a significant increase of the clothes collected compared to the same period in the previous years. It resulted in more than 500 tonnes of textile collected in one week in 2012, which was much more than expected (there was an objective of 400 tonnes collected, November being considered as a month with less clothes given away than the other months).
Budget:
- Staff involved by the 9 social economy enterprises: more than 4500 people, including over 600 employees and low qualified workers, more than 400 people in training and more than 500 volunteers time equivalent in the Walloon Region and Brussels.
- Cost of the radio campaign (75 spots + interviews in radio programmes): 3000 euros
Results:
- 18 746 tonnes collected in 2007 60% of which being effectively reused, i.e. 11 247,6 tonnes or 2,5 kg/inh/y or 25% of the textile waste generated
- 23 402 tonnes collected in 2010, 60% of which being effectively reused, i.e. 14 041,2 tonnes or 3 kg/inh/y or 30% of the textile waste generated$
FOR MORE INFORMATION: v.gilard@res-sources.be
General data
|
Country |
Belgium |
|
RA/LA |
Brussels and Walloon regions |
|
Population |
4 587 922 (2010) |
|
Waste generated (kg/inh/y) |
10 kg/inh/y (clothes discarded in Belgium) |
Waste prevention activity data
| Waste flow | Bulky waste : Textile (cloth) |
| Strategy | Cloth & other textile waste prevention |
| Scale | Roll out |
| Year(s) of tde project development | 2007 |
| Participation target | 40% |
| Waste reduction target | 20 800 tonnes collected in 2012 or 4,4 kg/inh/y or 44% of the textile waste generated |
| Participation rate | 50% |
| Waste quantities reduced | 2007: 18 746 tonnes collected, 60% of it being effectively reused. 2010: 23 402 tonnes collected, 60% of it being effectively reused |
| Budget | Staff involved by the 9 social economy enterprises: more than 4500 people. Cost of the radio campaign (75 spots + interviews in radio programmes): 3000 euros |
