In June 2022, Localgrowplanet visited La Recyclerie, a multi-function eco-site that brings individuals and the local community together at the Porte de Clignancourt section of the decommissioned La Petite Ceinture railway. A wonderful tour was given by Marion Bocahut, one of the directors. She is pictured here with the Repairs encyclopaedia they have produced, the aptly-titled Comment tout réparer, which means "how to repair everything"! Marion is standing in the Atelier de René repair workshop that forms part of La Recyclerie. This repair "bible" and other guides produced by La Recyclerie can be bought in many physical outlets and also on Amazon. L'Atelier de René is an innovative idea working against planned obsolescence, where people can become members for a nominal fee (30 euro per year, or 20 euro at reduced rate) and have their small electrical items repaired for free, for example kettles, drills and microwaves. Repair expert Mouloud is currently on site Monday to Friday, and one Saturday per month.  The lovely old-fashioned name René (meaning "reborn") was chosen for its many connotations, including the skills that have been lost and can be born again through initiatives such as DIY courses offered at this workshop, and also because in its audible form it is not gender specific. Renée is the female form.

La Recyclerie also has an inspiring urban farm, La ferme urbaine de La Recyclerie. This linear and vertically planted green space on one side of the railway tracks is used as an educational resource, for visitors, and for local schools and community groups, as well as for training interns and for sessions when volunteers help out. Just across the tracks lies the friendly jardin associatif Les Jardins du Ruisseau (founded 2004), which like La Recyclerie has chickens and beehives along with vegetable and fruit planters. 

Intern Catherine Charmant is shown here with one of the garden leaders Julie Sevrat. Julie carries a stack of reused pots that have come from the sunny "green roof" they use to raise their seedlings, pictured here with its beehives. There was a strong "empowered female" vibe during the visit, including when volunteer Corinne reminded Localgrowplanet that the mould-breaking 20th century French writer Colette used metaphors from nature all through her work. 

La ferme urbaine de La Recyclerie showcases innovative processes such as aquaponics (a system using fish poo as fertiliser in closed circuits that reduce the need for water and additional nutrients), and dry pedal operated toilets that use no chemicals or water. The latter are not smelly at all, since the pedal system works very well, and the déjections are reused after special composting. The gardeners have thoughtfully planted scented jasmine beside the toilets to make the experience a pleasant one! Oyas (buried porous earthen pots) and slow-seeping hoses are used to provide a resource-efficient continual gentle supply of water in the vegetable beds. The potting soil/ bought-in compost is organic and peatfree, and is supplemented with compost made on site. Local people often join Les Amis Recycleurs so as to be able to bring their fruit and vegetable peelings for composting. Supplemented with the garden waste from La ferme urbaine, the association can currently save up to one tonne of plant waste and eggshells from landfill each month!

The café or cantine is the main source of revenue at La Recyclerie, and is run according to eco-principles. All waste is recycled or composted, and local, organic or Fairtrade produce is used as much as possible, including from their own production. There are always some vegetarian and vegan offerings. While the venue is situated in the low-income neighbourhood of the Porte de Clignancourt, the main clientele of the café are young middle-class hipsters, whose expenditure supports the ecological awareness-raising projects. There are initiatives to encourage local people on lower or no income to come to enjoy the place and its green oasis, so a basic small coffee (un express) is priced at the same price as in the local McDonalds: 1 euro in 2022. They also have a system of café suspendu (adopted from the Italian caffè sospeso), where you can buy a coffee anonymously for someone who does not have the means to buy one. The number of suspended coffees is marked on a slate above the bar, so anyone in need will know how many are available, will not feel embarassed, and can just discreetly ask for "un café suspendu." Marion and her team are working to increase awareness of these resources in the local low-income community. 

For more on La Recyclerie in English you can read this piece by sponsorship partner Veolia describing the trajectory over the 5 years from 2014 to 2019, or visit the Recyclerie website for information in French. La Recyclerie was set up in 2014 and calls itself a third place or tiers lieu following American sociologist Ray Oldenburg. For more in French on the type of third place encapsulated by La Recyclerie, see the Coopérative des tiers lieux.