Page 30 - U4SSC Case study: Re-use of consumer goods and tools loaning, June 2020

Case Study 4 – Munich: Halle 2 second-hand store as a hotspot of the
local circular economy

Author:

- Nikolaos Kontinakis

Introduction

Background

Munich is a growing city with a prosperous economy. In 2017 Munich had about 1.5 million citizens.
The household waste production was 637 593 tonnes per year, of these 326 096 tonnes were collected
separately for recycling. The recycling rate was about 51 per cent. Munich has a long history of waste
reduction, starting 126 years ago with the aim of avoiding diseases like cholera. More recently, the aim
of Munich’s Municipal Waste Management Corporation (AWM) has been to forge partnerships for a
sustainable lifestyle for all citizens. AWM started with waste-reduction campaigns in the 1990s and
implemented a separate waste-collection system in 1994. Besides the collection of paper, organic and
residual waste at every building, and 960 kerbside bottle banks – not only for glass but also for metals,
plastics and used clothes – Munich citizens also have the opportunity to bring their recyclables to one of
the AWM recycling centres located in many districts. Here they are asked to separate their recyclables
into 30 different fractions. In 1997 AWM closed a waste incinerator and stopped the landfilling of
untreated waste. At the same time, AWM collects used goods via 12 recycling centres, mobile recycling
centres and bulky waste collection on demand, and by direct donation.

Knowing that several waste materials can be re-used, in 2011 AWM started the first second-hand store.
AWM installed special collection points on the Recycling Centres for items which are still useful, and
which can still be used after repair. When this store was demolished, AWM set up a multidisciplinary
working group of 15 people to create another store, and established cooperation agreements with
local social enterprises, educational and community organizations to create expertise and activities
that would encourage people to be more environmentally aware and active.

Challenge and response

The Mayor of Munich, Dieter Reiter, said in 2013, ‘A city that grows dynamically faces enormous pressure
for change. Mobility, housing space, architecture, nature, social aspects – the city administration is
faced with the challenging task of creating conditions that allow the preservation of our city’s identity.
The cooperation of all city departments and the vigorous participation of citizens are needed to achieve
the best outcome for our city and its people. This is why we have Perspective Munich!’ Perspective
1

1 Munich Future Perspective, 2013 https:// www .muenchen .de/ rathaus/ dam/ jcr: ea585d01 -a676 -4ee2 -889b -5345f480d44b/ PM _Magazin
_en _web .pdf

24 Case study: Re-use of consumer goods and tools loaning, June 2020