Villeurbanne, July 22 – A new sports recycling center, specializing in second-hand equipment, is slated to open in Villeurbanne by the end of 2026. This marks a significant step in expanding the circular economy for sports goods in the Lyon metropolitan area, following the successful model established in La Duchère since 2021.
The ‘Last Bastion Before the Bin’ Expands
Aurélien Buthurieux, a representative of the Sports Recycling Center, describes their mission as being the “last bastion before the bin.” The center, located in La Duchère (Lyon 9th arrondissement) since 2021, meticulously sorts, tests, and repurposes sports equipment that would otherwise be discarded by industrial sectors or local authorities.
Last year, the Lyon branch collected an impressive 10 tons of sports equipment, successfully reemploying 80% of it. “We declare everything, and we weigh everything,” emphasizes Buthurieux. Each item is registered within the Extended Producer Responsibility (REP) scheme, which partially funds their operations through an eco-contribution allocated to reuse structures.
Sports Reuse Still Marginal in France
The Lyon Sports Recycling Center currently employs five full-time staff, an apprentice, and a civic service volunteer. All positions are permanent contracts. Nationally, there are only a handful of such centers: six in the Paris region, one in Lyon, one in Bordeaux, and one in Grenoble.
Despite these efforts, the reuse of Sports and Leisure Articles (ASL), integrated into the REP since 2022, remains largely underdeveloped. According to data published by Ademe, only 3% of the 115,000 tons of sports equipment placed on the market in 2024 were reused.
A Detailed Process: Collection, Revalorization, Redistribution, and Awareness
The Sports Recycling Center operates through four core functions: collection, revalorization, redistribution, and awareness. Collection is carried out using cargo bikes for smaller quantities or trucks for larger volumes across the entire metropolitan territory.
Donations come from various sources: private individuals (30%), distributors like Decathlon and Intersport (50%), and waste management actors (20%).
Each item then undergoes a rigorous testing process: equipment inflation, complete tent assembly, technical textile verification, electronic device testing, and more. “We test everything, even tents,” notes Aurélien Buthurieux.
A Neighborhood-Oriented Approach
The La Duchère store is designed to resemble a conventional sports shop rather than a typical thrift store. “We try to look as much like a shop as possible,” says Buthurieux, to ensure the term ‘recycling center’ doesn’t deter potential customers.
Prices are set at approximately one-third of the new retail price. For instance, a new trail running shoe costing 150 euros would be sold for 50 euros, while a high-end racket priced at 300 euros would go for 80 euros. The customer base is predominantly local, with about 70% of clients originating from the 9th arrondissement.
Challenges in Reusing Certain Equipment
Not all equipment can be put back into circulation. Safety gear such as harnesses, helmets, and other protective equipment cannot be reused due to safety concerns. “We are not always able to verify wear and tear,” admits Aurélien Buthurieux. Moreover, reuse must adapt to fleeting trends.
“Steppers, which were popular in the 2000s, are now ubiquitous in waste collection centers; we no longer even collect them.” Similar to steppers, running equipment is over-represented, while there is a shortage of football equipment. Golf equipment, despite frequent arrivals, struggles to find new owners.
When an item cannot be reused, it can still be transformed. At the Recycling Center, “rugby tarpaulins, climbing ropes, we turn them into accessories,” explains Aurélien Buthurieux, showcasing a handbag made from a kimono. Two interns, trained in a specialized outdoor textile repair school, contribute to this upcycling effort.
Expansion to Villeurbanne: Reaching New Audiences
The upcoming opening of a second store in Villeurbanne, scheduled between November and December, aims to broaden the organization’s reach and attract new target audiences. “We will reach more people, without leaving La Duchère,” assures Aurélien Buthurieux.
The long-term objective is to establish a metropolitan sports reuse sector capable of collecting more donations, streamlining flows, and increasing the visibility of this still-marginal practice.
Thank you for reading this article! If you have a few minutes, we would like to hear your feedback to improve. To do so, you can respond anonymously to this questionnaire or send us an email at [email protected]. Thank you very much!
Want to see more Tribune de Lyon articles on Google? Add us as a favorite source!
