The issue of waste production in Europe is a growing one. Statistics indicate that the European community generates around 2,000 million tonnes of waste each year, of which over 40 million tonnes is classified as hazardous. Over the last six years, the amount of waste generated grew by 10 % a year.
Europe is not only generating vast amounts of waste however, it is at the same time wasting rich and valuable resources – material and non-material – which encompass food, people, knowledge & skills, housing, public spaces, everyday items/commodities, and more. This is at a time when unemployment levels are unsustainably high, when people are going hungry or have been forced to live on the streets.
The issue of waste therefore, is multi-dimensional and needs to be approached as thus: while it is imperative that people “reduce, re-use & recycle” waste, it is also important to consider new, alternative ways in which (unused or less used) resources could be better utilised, thus avoiding them being waste.
- Below are some examples of the types of actions (in orange) and policies (in green) that aim to avoid waste.
- These projects provide an insight into how waste production can be reduced as well as the ways in which the many resources available can be used in order to avoid waste.
Picture by Alan Cleaver
Co-operatives/shared spaces
A co-operative ("co-op") is an autonomous association of persons who voluntarily co-operate for their mutual, social, economic, and cultural benefit. Co-operatives may include non-profit community initiatives or businesses owned and managed by: the people who use its services (a consumer cooperative); by the people who work there (co-working spaces) or; by the people who live there (a housing co-operative).
Co-operatives are typically based on the co-operative values of “self-help, self-responsibility, democracy and equality, equity and solidarity” and the seven co-operative principles:
- 1. Voluntary and open membership
- 2. Democratic member control
- 3. Economic participation by members
- 4. Autonomy and independence
- 5. Education, training and information
- 6. Co-operation among co-operatives
- 7. Concern for community
Released Ex-colorificio /Project Rebeldia
Publié le : 2013-07-22 11:03 -Housing co-operatives
Publié le : 2013-05-22 15:14 -Food/Consumer co-ops
Publié le : 2013-05-22 14:15 -Co-working spaces
Publié le : 2013-05-22 13:26 -Use of public spaces
ViviBalon Flea Market
Publié le : 2013-07-31 14:50 -Released Ex-colorificio /Project Rebeldia
Publié le : 2013-07-22 11:03 -Favara Urban Network - F.U.N.
Publié le : 2013-07-16 13:44 -DIY and GIY movements
Publié le : 2013-05-23 09:41 -Empty/abandoned buildings
Publié le : 2013-05-22 16:07 -Systems of exchange
Released Ex-colorificio /Project Rebeldia
Publié le : 2013-07-22 11:03 -Alternative currencies
Publié le : 2013-05-23 15:38 -Freeshops
Publié le : 2013-05-23 15:36 -Online sharing communities
Publié le : 2013-05-23 14:39 -Recovery of goods
Designing your dream – ReMix Project
Publié le : 2013-11-25 10:13 -Released Ex-colorificio /Project Rebeldia
Publié le : 2013-07-22 11:03 -Favara Urban Network - F.U.N.
Publié le : 2013-07-16 13:44 -Lutherie Urbaine
Publié le : 2013-06-14 08:30 -Food [re]distribution
Publié le : 2013-05-23 15:57 -Freeganism
Publié le : 2013-05-23 15:44 -All Examples of Actions and Policies
Designing your dream – ReMix Project
Publié le : 2013-11-25 10:13 -Talia
Publié le : 2013-08-30 08:47 -Projecto Fruta Feia
Publié le : 2013-08-26 14:11 -Social Training - Professional Centre
Publié le : 2013-08-13 09:37 -Caxias Social Association - social solutions
Publié le : 2013-08-05 08:58 -DariAcordar, the anti-waste association
Publié le : 2013-08-05 08:19 -Bandabaratta ("Barter Gang"), informal group
Publié le : 2013-08-02 13:01 -BIOME- Self-managed factory
Publié le : 2013-08-02 12:45 -Mπορούμε "Boroume"
Publié le : 2013-08-02 12:12 -Social Value Policy
Publié le : 2013-07-29 19:16 -Empty Properties Tax
Publié le : 2013-06-28 12:19 -Container deposit legislation
Publié le : 2013-06-20 15:58 -Challenges
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