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Developing partnership
with the social economy sector
Many European municipalities promote
the repair of goods and the market for second-hand goods via
the traditional channels of craftshops, in order to reduce
the amount of waste to be handled. Some cities have taken
the opportunity to add a social dimension to this environmental
approach by developing partnership with repair and recycling
enterprises combining social and economic objectives.
Social enterprises have emerged in Europe
around World War II, organising the systematic collection
of clothes and furniture. In the 70s and 80s environmentally
conscious organisations contributed to their efforts, mostly
on a small-size scale in the local community. Their activities
focused on waste sorting, repair/reselling and material recovery.
In the 90s repair and recycling activities started in addition
to resale. Some enterprises started to get organised. This
was the consequence of a growing waste problem at local and
regional levels, of the economic crisis and of the recognition
of the social economy sector as a sector in its own right;
Social economy is acknowledged in the
European Strategy for Employment (2002), despite variations
in the definition of social economy enterprises in different
countries. These enterprises are working at the market yet
their competitiveness is influenced by their additional social
objectives. Often, they favour the reintegration of groups
at risk in the labour market, through training and employment.
These groups of low or un-skilled people and long-term unemployed
occupy 2/3 of the 40,000 jobs provided by the recycling social
enterprises in Europe. This represents about 10% of employment
in the waste management sector. They also facilitate access
of low-income households to goods or services, with a guaranteed
quality at lower cost. From an economic point of view, they
provide proximity employment that cannot be delocalised.
Currently, social economy companies deal with 3 major waste
streams:
- waste electrical and electronic equipment
(WEEE),
- textile,
- bulky household goods.
In the repair and reuse sector, these
enterprises protect the environment. They contribute to saving
resources and closing the loop of materials : the useful life
of goods is extended and WEEE are treated and recycled.
For Strasbourg in France and Torino in
Italy, supporting the development of this sector clearly appeared
as one of the ways to implement sustainable urban development.
Good practice :
- Strasbourg: ENVIE - Providing waste
treatment service and contributing to social development
- GOAB
- Torino: AMIAT TBD - A municipal company
with social objectives
Download good practice Developing
partnership with the social economy sector
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