Circular Economy Pilot Project
Tallinn Strategic Management Office, with support from the European Economic Area (EEA) program and the Environmental Investment Centre (KIK), is conducting pilot projects to promote circular economy and repair culture in Tallinn city.
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Project name: "Transformation of Waste Stations into Circular Economy Centers for the Promotion of Reuse and Establishment of Repair Workshops"
Project number: 2014-2021.1.06.22-0067
Project cost: €421,109.00
Project duration: Until April 30, 2024
Project partners: Oslo City, Stockholm Environment Institute Tallinn Centre, Tallinn University of Technology, NGO Uuskasutuskeskus, NGO Sustainable Renovation Information Centre, Tallinn Waste Centre, Tallinn Strategic Management Office.
Project number: 2014-2021.1.06.22-0067
Project cost: €421,109.00
Project duration: Until April 30, 2024
Project partners: Oslo City, Stockholm Environment Institute Tallinn Centre, Tallinn University of Technology, NGO Uuskasutuskeskus, NGO Sustainable Renovation Information Centre, Tallinn Waste Centre, Tallinn Strategic Management Office.
The project aims to promote the repair of broken items and redirecting usable items for reuse. As a result, various opportunities are created for residents to circulate their usable items and repair broken ones instead of discarding them (e.g., bicycles, furniture, doors, windows, clothes). These activities contribute to reducing overconsumption, increasing reuse, and consequently minimizing environmental impact.
Among Tallinn's circular economy initiatives is the creation of a repair society focusing on reuse and repair workshops in conjunction with waste stations, collectively known as circular economy centers. The plan includes establishing a network of circular economy centers based on existing waste stations and newly created ones. The emphasis in these centers will be on reuse spaces and repair workshops. The goal of the reuse spaces is to redirect usable items for free exchange, while repair workshops provide the opportunity to repair items onsite, focusing on specific types such as furniture, old windows and doors, clothes, bicycles, electronics, etc. The city aims to provide opportunities for non-profit organizations, businesses, and artisans engaged in various repair activities to operate and manage these repair workshops. A detailed concept for circular economy centers is under development within this project, involving experts in the process.
1. A reuse space (for free item exchange) and repair workshop will be established at Pääsküla Waste Station (Raba 40).
2. A wood repair workshop will be set up at Paljassaare Waste Station (Paljassaare põik 5) for refurbishing old wooden furniture, windows, doors, and other related wooden components. Additionally, new items may be crafted.
3. An sewing workshop will be created by NGO Uuskasutuskeskus next to its store at Sõpruse pst 255, allowing the revitalization of clothing items in need of repair.
4. A circular economy center in Lilleküla (Mustjõe 40) will house a reuse space (for free item exchange), a textile repair workshop, and a furniture repair workshop (furniture repair and restoration).
For the established repair workshops, an activity supervisor or master will be hired to manage the workshop, guide residents, and conduct training sessions.
Completed Activities:
Study Trip to Oslo from November 22-25, 2022
Representatives from all project partners participated in the study trip. On-site, Oslo city's climate goals, waste management, mini-waste stations within the city, and public packaging points were introduced. Visits were made to municipally-managed waste sorting stations and the Resirkula recycling center.
Study Trip to Oslo from November 22-25, 2022
Representatives from all project partners participated in the study trip. On-site, Oslo city's climate goals, waste management, mini-waste stations within the city, and public packaging points were introduced. Visits were made to municipally-managed waste sorting stations and the Resirkula recycling center.
Circular Economy and Green Capital. Tallinn Residents' Satisfaction Survey 2023:
The survey examined residents' attitudes toward waste, green initiatives, environmental awareness, and community gardens. The survey results under the theme "Reuse and Waste Reduction" will serve as supporting input for the successful implementation of this pilot project. The plan is to repeat the survey among city residents next year.
The survey examined residents' attitudes toward waste, green initiatives, environmental awareness, and community gardens. The survey results under the theme "Reuse and Waste Reduction" will serve as supporting input for the successful implementation of this pilot project. The plan is to repeat the survey among city residents next year.
Opening of Uuskasutuskeskus Sewing Room on May 8, 2023
In collaboration with NGO Uuskasutuskeskus and Tallinn University of Technology, the city opened a sewing repair workshop at the Uuskasutuskeskus store at Sõpruse puiestee 255. Residents can bring in both clothing and home textiles for repair.
The service is free of charge within the pilot project. To avail the service, residents must book a time by emailing [email protected]. Additionally, users of the free service are required to complete a survey, the answers to which will help evaluate the service's relevance in promoting repair culture and circular economy for both the city and Uuskasutuskeskus.
After receiving confirmation of the reservation, users should bring their clothing or home textiles in need of repair to the seamstress at Sõpruse pst 255 Uuskasutuskeskus store at the agreed-upon time. Only one clothing item or home textile per session can be brought for repair. The pickup time for repaired items will be coordinated with the seamstress on-site, depending on the complexity of the work.
The sewing repair service is provided free of charge until April 30, 2024, within the pilot project. If the project is successful, NGO Uuskasutuskeskus may consider opening sewing workshops at other stores for repairs. The sewing repair works are carried out by students from Tallinn University of Technology's fashion industry curriculum during their practical training, with guidance from supervisors.
The sewing repair service is provided free of charge until April 30, 2024, within the pilot project. If the project is successful, NGO Uuskasutuskeskus may consider opening sewing workshops at other stores for repairs. The sewing repair works are carried out by students from Tallinn University of Technology's fashion industry curriculum during their practical training, with guidance from supervisors.
- Sewing Room Services
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Trousers
Shortening Trousers
Repairing Trouser Pocket
Slimming Trousers
Zip Replacement on Trousers (zip provided by the customer)
Patching a Hole (patch provided by the customer)
SkirtAltering Skirt (slimming/shortening without lining)
Zip Replacement on Skirt (zip provided by the customer)
BlouseShortening Blouse Sleeves
Slimming Blouse
Shortening Blouse
DressSlimming Dress (without lining)
Shortening Dress (without lining)
Zip Replacement on Dress (zip provided by the customer)
Blazer/ Suit JacketShortening Sleeves (without lining)
Shortening Jacket (without lining)
Repairing Pocket
Home TextilesHemming Curtains
Hemming Bed Linen
Hemming Sauna Towel
Hemming Tablecloth
***
Sewing on and Replacing Buttons (buttons provided by the customer).
Currently, the sewing room does not offer repair services for lined garments. For zipper replacement, hole patching, or adding buttons, the customer must provide the zipper, patch, or buttons.
Study Trip to Sweden on May 15-16, 2023
The purpose of the study trip was to familiarize project participants with Stockholm's best practices in circular economy, as presented by representatives of the Stockholm City Council, and to visit the world's first recycling mall, ReTuna.
Wooden Outdoor Furniture Restoration Workshop on May 28, 2023
The workshop focused on the restoration and maintenance of wooden outdoor furniture to prolong their lifespan. The workshop took place in the premises of the upcoming general repair workshop at Pääsküla Waste Station, under the guidance of furniture restorer Tõnu Vainküla.
Wooden Outdoor Furniture Restoration Workshop on May 28, 2023
The workshop focused on the restoration and maintenance of wooden outdoor furniture to prolong their lifespan. The workshop took place in the premises of the upcoming general repair workshop at Pääsküla Waste Station, under the guidance of furniture restorer Tõnu Vainküla.
Visit of Oslo City Representatives to Tallinn from June 5-8, 2023
Together with Oslo project partners, we visited Paljassaare and Pääsküla waste stations, exploring reuse spaces and upcoming repair workshops, public packaging points, Uuskasutuskeskus' sewing room at Sõpruse pst 255, stores, and donation points in the city. Additionally, we visited the community center and repair workshop at Kopli 93.
Wooden Window Restoration Workshop at Paljassaare Waste Station on June 15, 2023
Wooden Window Restoration Workshop at Paljassaare Waste Station on June 15, 2023
Tallinn Waste Centre and NGO Sustainable Renovation Information Centre organized a workshop for restoring old wooden windows on June 15, aiming to extend their lifespan. The workshop, led by restorer Indrek Värv, covered assessing window conditions, key renovation steps, and understanding materials, tools, and techniques used in the process.
Roundtable I on Repair Workshops at Kopli 93 Repair Workshop on June 20, 2023
Topics discussed at the roundtable included naming various circular economy initiatives, models' strengths and weaknesses, funding, measuring activity effectiveness, adopting practices from other countries, and promoting collaboration for the development of a circular (repair) society. The discussion was facilitated by researcher Harri Moora from the Stockholm Environment Institute Tallinn Centre.
General Repair Workshop at Pääsküla Waste Station is Open
In July 2023, Pääsküla Waste Station inaugurated a repair workshop where enthusiasts can independently mend items requiring soldering, riveting, gluing, or welding under the guidance of a skilled master. The workshop is open twice a week, every Tuesday and Wednesday, equipped with necessary tools such as a drilling machine, various chisels, disk grinder, welding, metal-cutting, and hand tools. Experienced restorer Vallo Varik shares knowledge on materials, preparation, safe tool handling, restoration, and techniques on-site.
General Repair Workshop at Pääsküla Waste Station is Open
In July 2023, Pääsküla Waste Station inaugurated a repair workshop where enthusiasts can independently mend items requiring soldering, riveting, gluing, or welding under the guidance of a skilled master. The workshop is open twice a week, every Tuesday and Wednesday, equipped with necessary tools such as a drilling machine, various chisels, disk grinder, welding, metal-cutting, and hand tools. Experienced restorer Vallo Varik shares knowledge on materials, preparation, safe tool handling, restoration, and techniques on-site.
Roundtable II on Repair Workshops at Tartu Repair Basement on October 2, 2023
Agenda included updates since the first roundtable, results of the repair workshops definition survey, models, networking, collaboration, future steps, and discussions led by researcher Harri Moora from the Stockholm Environment Institute Tallinn Centre.
Roundtable III on Repair Workshops at Tallinn Strategic Management Office on November 8, 2023
Topics included nationwide networking, creating a unified repair platform, support measures from new structural funds, and the draft of the EU Right to Repair directive.
The completed report "Development of Tallinn Circular Economy Centers' Concept and Operating Model" summarizes practical research aiming to propose a concept and model supporting reuse and repair workshops, contributing to reducing overconsumption and environmental impact. The report was completed by SEI Tallinn, and is available for download here.
Topics included nationwide networking, creating a unified repair platform, support measures from new structural funds, and the draft of the EU Right to Repair directive.
The completed report "Development of Tallinn Circular Economy Centers' Concept and Operating Model" summarizes practical research aiming to propose a concept and model supporting reuse and repair workshops, contributing to reducing overconsumption and environmental impact. The report was completed by SEI Tallinn, and is available for download here.
Public sewing workshop at Uuskasutuskeskus 16.03.2024
Registration link will be available at the beginning of March.
Final seminar of the project 27.03.2024
The event will take place both in person and online. Registration link will be available at the beginning of March.
Keep an eye on the development of Lilleküla circular economy centre, its reuse space, textile repair workshop, and furniture repair workshop here. Expected opening time is in autumn 2024.
More information:
Kädi Eelmaa, project manager [email protected]
Eliis Kuus, project coordinator [email protected]
Liina Kanarbik, project coordinator [email protected]
Teele Joost, project coordinator [email protected]