In service since mid-June, this waste recovery space was inaugurated on July 6th by Christian Estrosi. Located in the priority district of Ariane, this place was designed on the same model as the one installed at Les Moulins since 2018.
More than just a recycling center, it is “a shared space, a place for meetings,” hopes Christian Estrosi, mayor of Nice. Much more spacious than the one at Les Moulins, this recycling center features both outdoor and indoor spaces geared towards the same theme: sustainable development. The project benefited from European funds covering 50% of the budget, which totals over 2.5 million euros.
“It is a local facility serving the residents. And its activity falls within the scope of the social and solidarity economy,” shares Max Ronchard, president of Galice. (1) This association, which generally aims to improve communal living, has been entrusted with managing the site.
Proud of the success of his first recycling center, which was awarded the Eurocities Awards 2021 in the “zero pollution” category, the mayor attended with many of his deputies at 157, Boulevard de l’Ariane. There, he unveiled the plaque to officially inaugurate this brand new 588m2 space.
When Ecology and Social Bind Together
The recycling center houses a real DIY workshop. A second life awaits dressers, tables, and desks discarded by local residents. Here, at this recovery site, they are refurbished. With a brush in hand, the mayor even got hands-on, applying a coat of varnish to a piece of furniture soon to be sold.
“We allow, in the end, someone with limited means to have beautiful furniture at home for little money,” explains the mayor of Nice. Once the various items are restored, they are indeed offered for sale in a dedicated area next to other sorted and as-is items. Here, the costs are very low. Count two euros for shoes or a few cents for a book.
“Beyond the goals of recovery, sorting, and upgrading, it’s about promoting sustainable and ecological practices among residents, but also acting on professional integration by reserving jobs within this recycling center,” shares the president of the association. Thus, within this structure, 15 jobs have been created, including 10 within an integration workshop.
An Educational Tool at the Heart of the Community
“Stroll through the aromas, colors, and senses to explore,” is how Mathilde, a sustainable development animator, describes the path set up outside the recycling center. A sensory garden has been created. An invitation to take your time to let your senses awaken is displayed there. A true educational tool for children and students, it consists of a multitude of flowers and aromatic herbs. Its goal: to raise awareness of biodiversity and reuse.
In line with the project, the exterior has been designed to serve the residents of the neighborhood. Further down, a shared garden accompanied by a greenhouse has been designed. Intentionally left wild, by the start of the school year, neighborhood residents can take ownership of the plots to create their own vegetable garden. The idea is for it to be “a tool built with them, for them.”
A collective composting center has also been installed. Enough to tackle household waste recovery concretely. And to go even further in this mission of awareness-raising, educational workshops for families and children will take place in this space, as is the case at its older sibling at Les Moulins.
Christian Estrosi assures that other recycling centers will emerge in the short term. One of 400m2 is planned for Rue Trachel, by March 2024. Other city districts are being considered, with the mayor particularly mentioning Las Planas. “We are identifying two or three other locations,” he confides.
(1) Group of Actors for Housing, Integration, Citizenship, and Employment
