According to the French Building Federation, the sector generates around 246 million tons of waste per year. More than 85% comes from demolition or renovation works. Now, with the mobile app Cycle Zéro, individuals can recover these materials for free. A very interesting anti-waste tool.
Construction and public works (BTP) waste in France represent an average of 75% of the country's waste. Far ahead of household waste from individuals. These are materials and elements that often end up in the bins of waste disposal sites. However, many can still be useful.
Carpentry, cables, plumbing, doors...
The objective of the founders of Cycle Zéro, the architects Selim Zouaoui, Karima Lebsir, and Jules Loubaresse, is to "help" people looking for materials and products at a lower cost and still in good condition. Construction companies accumulate a significant amount of them during demolitions and renovations, and then need to get rid of them.
"It's amazing all the things that are left behind at construction sites," says Selim Zouaoui. From carpentry, cables, electrical equipment, plumbing, doors, windows, light fixtures, to sinks, items that, after being used for a certain period of time, could still be donated.
Art with Recycled Materials
Aymeric Caulay, a 34-year-old visual artist, is well aware of this. He sees construction sites as potential gold mines ever since he discovered the mobile application Cycle Zéro, launched in September 2022. It allows him to identify and take for free materials from various public works sites. Raw materials that he enjoys repurposing from their final destination, the trash can.
In the past, he has already collected wood and furniture, which he uses for his numerous artistic projects. Installations or sculptures that he "co-builds" with children or adults, in schools or elsewhere, in hospitals, medical-educational institutes, residential facilities for dependent elderly people, or in correctional facilities.
A very interesting economic operation
Aymeric Caulay, a 34-year-old visual artist, is well aware of this. He sees construction sites as potential gold mines since he discovered the mobile application Cycle Zéro, launched in September 2022. It allows him to locate and take materials for free from various public works sites. Raw materials that he enjoys diverting from their final destination, the trash can.
In the past, he has already collected wood and furniture, which he uses for his numerous artistic projects. Installations or sculptures that he "co-builds" with children or adults, in schools or elsewhere, in hospitals, medical-educational institutes, residential care facilities for dependent elderly people, or in correctional facilities.
A very interesting economic operation
Many do not have the means to buy the necessary materials for their artistic projects. "But sometimes, you have to act quickly, which is why I regularly check the mobile app. It allows me to know what I can pick up," explains Aymeric. He has just made a good deal by picking up, through Cycle Zéro, new insulation pallets, which he needs for the work on his house, in the eastern part of Paris. "It's for an extension, and I'm taking care of it myself." An interesting economic operation for this artist and father, in the context of inflation, notably... "The cost of living is high," he adds, simply.
Surpluses, errors, changes...
In the long run, Selim wants to create a real sector so that construction actors end up throwing away less. Especially since this can also involve new products, barely unpacked. “There may be surpluses due to overly large orders, errors, or last-minute changes of mind on construction sites…”
Creating the conditions for making a connection: that is precisely the goal of the mobile application game. So that individuals know where the available goods are located, as close as possible to their home. Selim, who started his adventure in the Paris region, intends to gradually cover all regions of France...
Limiting the environmental footprint
The team behind the app caters to DIY enthusiasts, including individuals renovating a room in their home, as well as professionals looking for low-cost raw materials. "These can be craftsmen, reuse expert associations, or schools for artistic construction projects, in particular," says Selim.
To take advantage of it, you need to register on the application, reserve the available materials, find a time slot, and go to Cycle Zéro's partner construction sites. On-site, Selim and his team welcome the beneficiaries and take care of the very time-consuming operations. A paid service for the building company associated with the construction site, as this is how the application is financed. But a beneficial service for more than one reason! "Thanks to the revaluation of materials, companies reduce their environmental footprint, reduce the impact more generally, as there will be no (or less) extraction of materials and construction of new materials," he continues. "Finally, this allows them to avoid storing waste, with the intention of taking them to waste disposal sites," emphasizes the architect. His clients are large construction companies, but Cycle Zéro can encourage project managers to recommend this anti-waste tool to the companies in charge of the work.
Cover Photo: Materials recovered by pallet loads @ Greg Reese - Pixabay