The Recyclotopia Society is thriving and has more and more followers. The starting point for a circular economy and waste reduction, recycling remains attractive.
Part of the brilliant idea of a group of friends to create a recycling center, the association was born in 2017 with the only means to motivate those who imagine it. “We had the idea to make it a hybrid place between recycling and a third place where we could recycle things, give them a second life and share a common passion about the environment and extending the life of things,” testifies Séverine Blaney, co-president from the association.
The idea and desire were there, and they set out on the adventure of creating an association, starting first by imagining a business plan and gathering volunteers interested in the project. Very quickly, they were able to build a real network and rely on people with resources to start launching their business. “In the beginning we had nothing, except our System D and our motivation. Thanks to the City Hall of Castelnaudary, we were able to meet leaders of other associations such as the Confederation Syndicale des Familles with whom we collaborated to implement our project. “The first coffee repair workshops,” explains Séverine.
Little by little, the bird built its nest, and through deeds and 'doing', the association was able to carve out a place for itself in the associative fabric of the Shura and gain fame. Initially, 80 members had already discovered the association and showed their solidarity for its development. They owe their accelerated growth to their self-sacrifice and to the event that left its mark. “In 2019, we organized a large coffee workshop where we brought together all the partners associated with our association, including professionals. We achieved success beyond our expectations and this allowed us to meet more than 300 visitors at the event,” explains Severin.
The real impetus for Recyclotopia was the beginning of the Great Ascension. Thanks to a core group of volunteers and the support of local elected officials, they were able to move into the former Andreosi High School building. Recycling, making recycled things, running workshops, and raising awareness about reducing everyday waste make up the association's brand.
Today, the association’s headquarters is divided into several spaces, from the shop to the workshop for repairing and polishing items, including the sewing area, which is a real beehive that volunteers build and manage every day.
After a few years of imagining and shaping Recyclotopia with their own hands, the volunteers did not stop there, and have already set their sights on the next step of creating a real recycling center.
