Profiles: CF2D – Brussels
Manufacturing often can bring a range of benefits for cities, while solving fundamental urban problems. Electronic waste is a serious 21st century problem that has been generally sent off-shore for processing. As recipient countries, particularly poor Asian and African countries, become more apprehensive about the benefit of treating Western waste, the generators of the waste are being forced to find new management solutions. However waste management is not often profitable without public subsidies or contracts. This is where waste management and the social economy sector have a strong possible partnership, allowing for an accessible entry point into the workforce.
CF2D is located along Brussels’ canal district, within an ERDF (European Regional Development Funds) funded complex oriented towards waste management. The non-profit organisation is focused on repurposing or at least selectively dismantling and sorting electronic waste. This provides relatively ‘low-value’ financial returns but is of great value for cities that systematically produce vast amounts of electronic waste.
This video helps to understand how non-profits are able to entre into waste management and how they deal with the poor skills challenging staff associated with the social sector.
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