The first phase of Kehlen’s modernised facility has now been completed, marking a major step in a broader transformation to redefine the traditional recycling centre. Serving some 43,000 residents across eight municipalities, the new resource centre is part of a €29 million project, with €8 million contributed by the Ministry of the Environment.
At the heart of the revamped site is a second-hand shop, which opened its doors on Thursday. The principle is simple: items like books, kitchenware, toys, and other objects that owners no longer need can be dropped off and taken home by others free of charge.
Luc Feller, President of the Intercommunal Syndicate for Waste Collection (SICA), says that the centre is no longer just about getting rid of rubbish. Instead, the focus is on imagining ways to prevent waste in the first place, extend the life of products, and repair minor defects rather than discarding items.
To support this shift, a repair workshop is currently being set up at the site. In addition to offering repairs, the workshop will host sessions where participants can learn to fix everyday items themselves. Another dedicated space will welcome school classes, raising awareness about waste management and the circular economy among younger generations.
Despite these efforts, there is still room for improvement. In 2023, SICA recorded an average of 121.18kg of residual waste per resident.
SICA Secretary Joël Adam says that the aim is to further reduce the residual waste sent to SIDOR. He estimated that many items ending up in the residual waste could still be sorted or given a second life through the second-hand shop.
Last year’s figures underscore the demand: more than 36,000 visits were registered at the previous second-hand shop on the old site next door, and about 120 tonnes of items found new owners instead of being thrown away. The new shop is set to officially open next week.
A second phase of construction is already underway and is expected to last another 16 months. Planned improvements include solar panels on the building’s roof and a redesigned area to improve materials sorting.
