In a decade, the little Orléans resource center has grown a lot! Its activity has increased and its functioning has changed, but its essence has remained the same. The AAA Resource opens its doors to the public to celebrate its action and commitments, Saturday June 22.
It’s the story of three friends who one day had the crazy idea of creating a resource center in Orléans. It was ten years ago. And they had hollow noses. Because the adventure, despite some downs, is today a success.
The primary goal of the La Ressource AAA association is the reuse of objects. Clearly, she believes that many can still serve again. To do this, they must be collected, even repaired, and resold at a solidarity price. A virtuous spiral which has resonated with consumers, who are increasingly inclined to favor second-hand goods. Whether for clothes, dishes, books, toys, bicycles… Ali Baba’s cave is limitless!
A tonnage multiplied by 30 since 2015
The development of so-called new generation recycling centers, including a reuse zone at the entrance, has encouraged donations. The tonnage harvested has only continued to increase: it has multiplied almost 30-fold between 2015 and 2023.
And to support this development, the association became, in 2019, an integration structure. It employs back-to-work employees, whom it trains within its vast premises in Archimède, in Saint-Jean-de-Braye. Today there are 46 permanent employees, 41 employees in integration, 40 volunteers, and 8 volunteers in civic service.
La Ressourcerie opens a fourth store, in a large hangar, in Saint-Jean-de-Braye
Among the missions of the AAA Resource is also raising awareness among different audiences, particularly younger generations, in schools. But also through the very varied and always free creative workshops that it offers all year round, mainly at the Comptoir du réemploi (in Saint-Pryvé-Saint-Mesmin) but also at the foot of buildings, at festivals…
The association also helps families in need, at the request of social workers, in particular. It provided furniture to 201 families (or 607 people) last year.
The program of festivities, Saturday June 22
To celebrate humans, nature and the collective, the entire resource center team is organizing a big “fiestAAA” this Saturday, June 22. It is even said that the sun could come out! It is open to all, with an attractive and festive program, until 9 p.m. It will be possible to join the association for 5 euros.
The headquarters of Ressource AAA – Ressourcerie d’Orléans is located at 21, avenue Gay-Lussac in Saint-Jean-de-Braye.
The association has a new hangar.
In Orléans, AAA Resource found a way to make new objects from plastic waste
This festive event, around reuse, of course, is open to all. On the program: second-hand shop, creative workshops and games (bow ties in inner tubes, Create your sap’, Just weight, Time’s Up, raffle, etc.), guided tours of the premises, Repair café demonstration, concerts at 4, 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., creators’ market, partners’ village…. A refreshment bar and food trucks (West Indian sandwiches, ice creams, Liège waffles) will be there to drink and delight you.
IN NUMBERS
3. The AAA Resource was created by three friends in 2014. First as an experiment, in a small premises on rue des Carmes. Then in a permanent cell, at 106, rue de Bourgogne, from 2015. As the activity grows, the association can hire its first employees.
1.500. In 10 years of existence, the association has put back into circulation nearly 1,500 tonnes of objects initially intended to be thrown away, the equivalent of 12 whales!
522,22. This is the tonnage harvested in 2023. It was “only” 17.5 in 2015. It has continued to increase exponentially, year after year. Evidence of a change in citizen behavior. The new recycling centers have also integrated drop-off points, which makes it easier to donate reusable items.
Marie Guibal
