Basel: Setting up a building components exchange

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Country:

a) Western Europe

b) Switzerland

Language:
Type:	Project, Concept, 1
Area:	City/Town, Rur/area/Village, 100,000 - 1 mill.
Actors:	Local government, NGO, Publ.-priv. partnership
Funding:	Local government, Economic Sector
Topics:	Building materials
	Cycling resources
	Employment
Objectives:	Improve access to information
	Improve national / international cooperation
	Increase public awareness
	Increase use of ecological building materials
	Reduce resource consumption
	Waste avoidance
Instruments:	Demonstration and pilot project
	Integrated planning approach
	New environmental institutions / Institutional reorganisation

Abstract:

On 1st February 1995 the building components exchange („Bauteilbörse“) in Basel started its work. It is the first one in Switzerland and offers a unique service by registrating and passing on second-hand components from building sites. It endeavours to avoid the waste disposal of usable objects and to facilitate the building and renovating of houses for a reasonable price. All components are in good condition and sometimes even historic. Another aim is the creation of long-term jobs by dismantling, transporting, cleaning, presenting and selling the components.

The exchange service is an outstanding example in the field of local recycling activities and a good inspiration for similar initiatives in other European countries. It has been selected for the following reasons:

• All available components are registered and categorised in an electronic database, the „virtual warehouse“. Interested persons can have immediate information on the range of objects. They can also get a printed list.
• The service helps to find the right craftsmen for reintegration of components.
• The concept also includes a building components market („Bauteilladen“) with valuable and historic objects where customers can see the components on the spot.
• If it is ecologically appropriate, components can even be exported to other countries.

The idea has already spread over the whole of Switzerland and many services and shops in different cantons have started a similar work. Since February 1996 a nation- wide „components network Switzerland“ (Verein BauteilNETZ Schweiz) co-ordinates the work of the services. Here a central database registers supply and demand for all connected services and therefore the organisation can pass on required components nation-wide.

Concept and aims

In the City of Basel about 50,000 tons of waste result from building activities. A considerable part of the waste can be reused and therefore must not be deposited in landfills. The building components exchange („Bauteilbörse“) in Basel endeavours to register usable components and pass them on to interested persons or institutions. Hereby, raw material, space in landfills and energy can be saved. Another aim is to facilitate the building and renovating of houses at a reasonable price. In this way, affordable rented flats can be constructed. In addition, this project aims to create long-term jobs, e.g. in dismantling, transporting, cleaning, presenting and selling the items. Therefore, the service is a charitable organisation in many regards.

Previously, similar efforts had already been made but they failed due to the work intensity and high costs for transport and storage. Nowadays, growing environmental problems and increasing costs for waste disposal demand a new start of this waste avoidance and recycling approach. The service sees itself as a link between a supplier of components and interested clients. An important element of this concept is the use of modern tele-communication media. The basic idea is the operation of a „virtual warehouse“ where all available items will be registered. By passing on the appropriate information to the client, the replacement of a component straight from the building site to the new place of operation is possible.

In this way, costs of storage and transport can be saved and the components can be offered at an attractive and competitive price. In consequence, this project is designed to be feasible in economic and practical terms.

An additional building components market („Bauteilladen“) will present valuable and historic components so that the client can get an impression of the object on the spot.

Implementation

The building components exchange in Basel started its work on 1st February 1995 and the building components market was opened on 1st June 1995 in Birsfelden.

By paying a registration fee of 20 to 50 Swiss Francs for each component, suppliers can offer components to the service that will register each item in an electronic database, the so-called „virtual warehouse“. Here they are categorised by special criteria. The service also estimates the price for each reusable object. The suppliers are private persons, architects, craftsmen and the building trade. By using the service, they have the opportunity to sell the left-overs while saving the costs of disposal.

In the case of a whole lot of objects, the service will make a contract with the supplier who only has to pay the registration fee after a successful relocation. Interested persons are private individuals, architects, craftsmen and handymen who want to get original and historic components for a good price. They can ask for these objects free of charge by phone or can get printed lists. In case of further interest, the supplier can be contacted directly. Afterwards both sides can sort out the details among themselves. In this way, there are no costs for storage and transport.

The service can offer a wide range of objects that are in good condition and sometimes even historic: parquet floorings, natural stones, partitions, bricks, doors, windows, glass, stairs, bath-tubs, basins, fittings, washing machines, water-heaters, mirrors, tiled stoves, fitted kitchens, ovens etc. Especially wash basins and fridges are standardised and therefore can be integrated without any problems. The service also helps to find the right craftsmen. As the service closely works with architects in the neighbouring „Workshop for Architecture“, it can also give advice in architectural matters. The architects can support each project from the plan to implementation. The workshop is specialised on concepts for waste disposal and on the reintegration and transformation of used components. In this way, a building can be constructed for a good price.

If the components can´t be passed on within a certain time limit (mostly within three months), the supplier has two choices: either he must arrange the disposal of this component or he can offer it to the building components market where it can be stored and offered for sale. If the shop accepts this piece, it will be dismantled, transported, cleaned, if necessary repaired and then presented in the shop. This shop is exclusively set up for valuable and historic components. The selection of these objects follows economic criteria, i.e. only components that will probably cover the storage and transport costs will be taken in. If the shop gets many pieces of the same kind, it will present one item and will keep the rest in storage.

As interesting examples for the work of the relocation service four activities can be mentioned:

1. The pulling down of a grand villa in Basel (Casa d´Italia) that was later rebuilt as a restaurant. The service sold all components which were dismantled by the service itself or by the clients.
2. The total renovation of a seven-storey laboratory of the chemical firm CIBA. The service registered all components and could pass on some objects like wall cupboards, items of windows. The dismantling was carried out by the service itself or the clients.
3. The pulling down of a villa from the turn of the century. Within three days the service and interested persons dismantled many components. As a result parquet floorings, the coverings of radiators, windows etc. could be passed on for reuse.
4. The rebuilding of flats owned by the Abendrot foundation and pension fund in Basel. The foundation bought all the sanitary installations from the relocation service and therefore could continue to offer rented flats for a good price.

Results and Impacts

After the first year the project in Basel already had the following results:

1. It became clear that there is a big potential of reusable components that are widely accepted by interested persons.
2. The market for selling these components is quite big and there is a constant demand. Due to the positive response the service is going to open a second building components market and is looking for a new stock-room.
3. About one third of all items in the „virtual warehouse“ could be placed by the service. By the activities of the building components market, another 20 to 25 per cent of the components could be sold after dismantling, transport, cleaning, presentation and selling.
4. The monthly bulletin is going to be more attractive for the reader. Besides general information on the components, certain objects will be illustrated by photos. The range will also be presented on the Internet.
5. The export of surplus components to countries like France, the former Yugoslavia and Portugal will be intensified. In doing this, it will be arranged that the energy for transport must not exceed the energy for recycling.

An important result is the approach to cooperate with other national exchange services in order to co- ordinate activities. Presently, other services in different towns and regions have already been established and therefore a nation-wide network is now being created. On 16th February 1996 the organisation „Components Network Switzerland“ (Verein BauteilNETZ Schweiz) was founded to promote the idea of the exchange and to support the co-operation of these services and similar initiatives. The network functions as an umbrella organisation and works with a central database that registers supply and demand for all connected services. In this way, the information on available and required components can be made known nation-wide so that the objects can be passed on quickly and don´t have to be stored for long. The organisation also promotes the acceptance of the services by ensuring the quality of the objects, introducing certain norms, presenting good examples of exchange etc. It also writes a documentary report with practical solutions of the reintegration of used components and also presents its work in the Internet.

Actors and Structures

The building components exchange was mainly initiated by two women architects, Barbara Buser and Klara Kläusler. The objectives of the service are supported by different institutions and organisations. The trade association accepted the concept and agreed to the employment scheme for three employees. The local job centre is interested in this project and is going to finance three workplaces for unemployed people. In addition, the Department for Energy and Technical Facilities in Basel helped to finance an unemployed architect for one year.

Since February 1996 the service is closely connected with the new and nation-wide „Components Network Switzerland“ (Verein BauteilNETZ Schweiz). This umbrella organisation for such services in Switzerland co-ordinates the work of five exchanges, five building components markets and three enterprises with similar aims. It already has cantonal branches in the cantons of Aargau and Zurich. For example, the components network in Zurich has 19 members, among them private employers, institutions that are working in this field like the WWF, and the Zurich Waste Department („Abfuhrwesen Zurich - AWZ“).

Presently, the network has 60 members. Its organisation is structured in an executive committee with a manager (not a full-time post) and four working groups which meet regularly. These groups deal with the topics public relations, internal co-operation, EDP, safeguarding of quality and export. At least once a year there will be a general assembly to discuss further actions.

Finance

Every supplier of the exchange service pays a registration fee and - after finding a client - also pays a commission fee. After the first year it became clear that the service can not be financed only by this charge and is therefore running at a loss. The Workshop for Architecture paid the rent for the office.

In consequence, the retail price is an important finance source. The building components market can be run as a private business and is economically feasible after the first year. It can even support the exchange service financially. As the service will take part in an employment scheme, three employees are financed by the local job centre. The Department for Energy and Technical Facilities in Basel already supported the service by employing an unemployed architect for one year as part of the plan „measures for waste avoidance“.

The nation-wide components network (Verein BauteilNETZ Schweiz) is financed by membership subscription, subscriptions by authorities, institutions and patrons, fees and other financial contributions and returns.

Source of Information

Bauteilbörse Basel 1996: Jahresbericht 1995

Buser, Barbara 1996: „Bauteilbörse Basel: Rahmenbedingungen für die erfolgreiche Bauteilvermittlung“, summary of a speech held at the conference „Bauteilbörsen und ihr Beitrag zur Abfallverminderung und Arbeitsbeschaffung“, on 30th October 1996 in Zurich

Deizi, Ursula 1996: „Einsatzprogramme für Erwerbslose“, paper for the conference „Bauteilbörsen und ihr Beitrag zur Abfallverminderung und Arbeitsbeschaffung“ on 30th October 1996 in Zurich

Poldervaart, Pieter 1996: „Wiederverwenden von Bauteilen macht Schule“, in: Die Schweizer Gemeinde, Nr. 10, S.19-23

Spalinger, Daniel 1996: "Bauteilnetz Zürich - Eine Region spannt zusammen“, paper for the conference „Bauteilbörsen und ihr Beitrag zur Abfallverminderung und Arbeitsbeschaffung“ on 30th October 1996 in Zurich

Staub, P. 1996: „Bauteilbörse als Partner der Abbruchunternehmen“, paper for the conference „Bauteilbörsen und ihr Beitrag zur Abfallverminderung und Arbeitsbeschaffung“ on 30th October 1996 in Zurich

Stauffer, Hans-Ulrich 1996: „Eine sanfte Renovation mit alten Bauteilen: Die Pensionskasse Abendrot geht voran“, paper for the conference „Bauteilbörsen und ihr Beitrag zur Abfallverminderung und Arbeitsbeschaffung“ on 30th October 1996 in Zurich

Verein BauteilNETZ Schweiz 1997: Report from 10th January 1997

Verein BauteilNETZ Schweiz 1996: various leaflets from its conference „Bauteilbörsen und ihr Beitrag zur Abfallverminderung und Arbeitsbeschaffung“ on 30th October 1996 in Zurich

Contact:

Cities:

Basel:

The City of Basle has approximately 200,000 inhabitants and 171,000 workplaces. The city is located next to the German and French border and it is the core area of a much larger conurbation with another 320,000 inhabitants in Switzerland, 125,000 in Germany and 33,000 in France.

Basel, situated in northern Switzerland, is the capital of the half-canton Basel-Stadt (City of Basel), on the Rhine River. In 1833 the two independent half-cantons, Basel-Stadt and Basel-Land, were created from the former Basel Canton. Basel-Stadt, covering 37 sq. km and with a population (1994) of 197,100, comprises the City of Basel and two adjoining communities. Basel-Land, covering 428 sq. km and with a population (1994) of 251,300, has its capital at Liestal.

The City of Basel is surrounded by a rich agricultural region where fruit trees and grapevines are cultivated and cattle are raised. The city is a major industrial centre in which pharmaceuticals, chemicals, machinery, printed materials, and textiles are produced. It is also the site of an annual industrial fair. Most of the inhabitants of the region speak German.

Population:

Project was added at 23.01.1997
Project was changed at 10.03.1998