Good practice:

EXTEND THE LIFE SPAN OF THINGS. “The best waste is the one that does not exist”

Lots of items in good conditions were being discarded by its owners, and at the same time, many low-income people couldn't afford for necessary goods like furniture. Through this GP, people in risk of exclusion benefits from the low prices of second-hand goods that otherwise were have been discarded. Cartaes considers that things that are donated at no cost are nor valued at all, so since its creation in 2011, social donations have been eliminated and a social service price, even if it is symbolic, or volunteer hours are agreed upon so that people can buy the products they need from the store.
The main goals and the strategy of Cartaes’ model are:
- Expand the target market
- Increase revenue by selling more products and thus create more stable jobs for people at risk of social exclusion
- Inform, via web page and social networks, about the social and environmental task behind the good practise
- Build trust and promote a behavioural change towards consumption
- Update products (rotation of products)
- Improve and create a quality and modern brand image
The proximity of a 1.500 m2 facility for the R and PfR of goods, to the waste collection centre is a key element for the success implementation of the current management model.
The main stakeholders and beneficiaries of the practice are in one hand the donators (individuals or enterprises), Cartaes as the manager of the project, and the beneficiaries (people in risk of social exclusion but also any citizen).

3 structural staff FTE, 6 employees under labour inclusion contract, 55 volunteers;
Facility (1.500 m2) and shop (100 m2)
Financial resources: subsidies to employ people at risk of social exclusion; on average, 70% of the income comes from its entrepreneurial activity and 30% from funds.

Avoided waste diverted from landfill:
• Bulky: from 14t (2015) to 22t (2018). 26,84% of the total amount
• WEEE: from 2,83t (2015) to 5,91t (2018), that is, 6,73% and 10,37% of recovered materials
• Textiles: from 106t (2015) to 130t (2018). None of the clothes is derived to landfill.
• Others (jewellery, household items, books, bikes ...): about 1,6 t/year are PfR
Employees: 53 people at risk of social exclusion
Increase of revenue from the beginning (87,25% at the end of 2018)

Difficulty in materials recording and in distinguish between waste and product.
Adaptation to the RD 110/2015 of WEEE: compulsory guarantee, registration requirements, as external resources and support are required.
Future Challenge: be innovative and be able to set up an upcycling line of work.

It is a transferable and replicable model with interesting quantitative and qualitative results. The strategy of Cartaes has been to attract new users, new customers, leveraging social networks and other channels of communication and awareness. They are seeking a change in consumer habits as well as innovating in the services with the potential to create more employment.
Years of experience and evolution demonstrate the sustainability and viability of the project. Currently and with the declared climate emergency situation, the citizen is slrrowly committed to the environment. Positive dissemination and communication and activities at the collection center for schools, citizens, etc. result in positive results and also help to break the stigma associated with the sale of second-hand products. The collaboration and exchange of experiences with other collection centers in the territory and the participation in the PREVOC Training Seminar, supports the dissemination of Cartaes’ model.