Initiatives

Second-hand clothes collection

Our second-hand clothing collection activities began in 2000 and over the years we have been able to collect millions of kilograms of used clothing that would have otherwise become community waste. This has led to notable savings in both economic and environmental terms.

Since 2012, Caritas has worked with Consorzio Farsi Prossimo to promote closer collaboration among companies working in the collection of garments. This has led to a network of social enterprises called the RIUSE Network (Joint Ethical Recovery of Used Clothing).

A new campaign has been promoted to aid the collection of clothing through the DONA VALORE project.

This promotion serves a large part of the Province of Lecco as well as a section of the Province of Como, where more than 100 bins have been placed to collect and recover used clothes.

In 2017, more than 400 tonnes of discarded garments were collected.

These garments are collected, selected and then sent to specialised companies that select the items needed immediately for Caritas. The remaining part is recovered as raw material, which serves to cover the collection costs.

Any profits are used to finance social assistance projects in the Lecco area.

The DONA VALORE Project and its Phases

CLOTHING
COLLECTION

Our cooperative collects clothing in full agreement with Local administrations and in full compliance with environmental, transport and work regulations. We also ensure the correct maintenance of over 100 bins located in the Diocese of Milan.

SALE

Business partners who comply with specific contracts and ethical protocols contribute to the activity's transparency. They acquire the material and begin the garment recovery process:

- Selection

- Reuse and sale of clothing in good condition

- Recycling remaining items to obtain yarn and raw materials

COOPERATIVE USE OF EARNINGS

The RIUSE NETOWRK guarantees employment for people with difficulties. Its proceeds also support social projects in areas of the Diocese: communities and shelters, as well as services assisting people with mental illnesses, children, elderly people, families suffering hardships, foreigners and unemployed people.

Other services

Cleaning

Our public and private building-cleaning service began in response to client requests and to provide complete service for different activities that required a single provider.

This led to an area of service that has expanded and diversified to include activities related to the cleaning of public, private and industrial areas, even very specific ones.

Today, thanks to our specific professional equipment, we are able to respond to even the most varied requests.

Labour, clearing and maintenance

Through the experience we have gained, we have been able to provide many services that have grown out of client opportunities or needs. These can be summarized as follows:

• Support or replacement of municipal road houses

• City street cleaning

• Salting roads or paved areas of homes and condominiums. Snow clearing with appropriate equipment, also in difficult-to-access areas

• Small maintenance, labour, transport, removals, hire of portable containers to transport/store materials

• Clearing of homes, offices, warehouses and materials