The 48er-Tandler Re-use Shop – A Waste Prevention and Re-use Initiative of the City of Vienna
Vienna's Municipal Department 48 (MD 48) is responsible for the city's waste management. It is active in reuse since 1989, when the city’s first reuse shop – the so called 48er-Basar – was founded. For the purpose of reuse and waste prevention, still usable goods were collected at the recycling centres of the city and sold in the 48er-Basar.
As a further development of the 48er-Basar, the 48er-Tandler was opened in 2015. With its central location and a modern interior design thanks to upcycled furniture, it aims to attract all population groups.
The MD 48 has carried out an extensive campaign in order to inform citizens about the possibility of bringing their reusable goods to one of the recycling centres instead of disposing of them. In addition to items from the recycling centres, unclaimed goods from the city’s lost and found service as well as items from the city administration which are no longer in use are given a second chance in the reuse shop.
The 48-er Tandler provides a combination of social and economic benefits, as all revenues are donated to charitable purposes and citizens have access to good-quality secondhand goods at affordable price.
- In 2017, an average of 720 people visited the 48er-Tandler each day and 158.000 pieces were sold.
- Numerous visitors from other municipalities/cities from Austria and abroad have visited the 48er-Tandler.
- The homepage is updated weekly.
- According to current surveys, 81% of the participants are aware of the possibility to hand in goods for reuse at the recycling centres.
- Media response and customer feedback indicate the success of the 48er-Tandler. For example the Austrian television broadcasts the show erlesen from there.
- In 2017 the 48-er Tandler began organising events to catch the attention of younger groups, e.g. through dance festivals or after work shopping. Events that aim to reach wider audiences are organised in the shop at least once a week.