Every year, Brussels households throw away an estimated 500 kg of waste per person, much of which could be given a second life. Upcycling — the process of transforming waste materials into new, higher-quality products — is gaining traction as a creative and sustainable solution. Now, a growing number of community-led workshops across the city are combining upcycling with charity, turning trash into treasure to support those in need. This article explores how you can join these workshops, learn practical skills, and contribute to a more circular economy in Brussels.

What is Upcycling and Why Does It Matter?

Upcycling differs from recycling. While recycling breaks down materials to create something new (often of lower quality), upcycling repurposes items without breaking them down, adding value. For example, an old wooden pallet becomes a bookshelf, or a worn-out tyre becomes a planter. In Brussels, the concept is embedded in the city's Plan Régional de Gestion des Ressources et des Déchets, which aims to reduce waste by 5% per inhabitant by 2028. Upcycling directly supports this goal by diverting materials from incineration or landfill.

Charities have embraced upcycling as a dual-purpose activity: it provides a creative outlet for volunteers and generates funds or goods for social causes. For instance, the non-profit Les Petits Riens (Spullenhulp in Dutch) operates thrift stores and workshops where donated items are repaired and resold, with proceeds funding social inclusion projects. In 2023, Les Petits Riens reported a turnover of €8.5 million from its 30 shops in Brussels, directly supporting 350 jobs and training programs.

Finding Upcycling Workshops in Brussels

Several organisations run regular upcycling workshops that combine creativity with charity. Here are key locations and their offerings:

  • BricoLab (Rue de la Grande Île 7, 1000 Brussels) — A community workshop offering free upcycling sessions every Wednesday from 14:00 to 18:00. Participants can bring old furniture, textiles, or electronics and learn to repair or transform them. Tools and guidance are provided. Donations are accepted on a pay-what-you-can basis, with proceeds going to local food banks.
  • Repair Café Brussels — While primarily focused on repair, many branches now host upcycling workshops. The local repair cafes in Ixelles and Saint-Gilles hold monthly upcycling events. For example, the Repair Café at Maison de la Création (Rue de la Brasserie 1, 1050 Ixelles) runs a "Fabric Upcycling" workshop every first Saturday, where participants turn old clothes into tote bags or quilts. Donations of €5 per session support the café's tools and materials.
  • City Fab 1 (Rue de la Rive 10, 1080 Molenbeek) — A fab lab that runs a "Circular Design" program. Their upcycling workshops focus on electronic waste: turning old keyboards into clocks or computer parts into jewellery. Workshops cost €10 for materials, with half the fee donated to solidarity grocery initiatives in Schaerbeek.

How Upcycling Workshops Support Charity

The charity aspect varies by organiser. Some workshops directly donate proceeds to specific causes, while others use the upcycled products themselves as fundraising items. Here are concrete examples:

  • Les Brigades du Bonheur runs a "Trash to Treasure" series where volunteers create decorative items from waste. The finished products are sold at solidarity fairs in Saint-Gilles, with 100% of profits funding birthday parties for children in shelters. In 2024, the series raised €2,300.
  • Oxfam Brussels (multiple locations) hosts upcycling workshops for volunteers who then create items for Oxfam's charity shops. For instance, a recent workshop at Oxfam Shop Chaussée d'Ixelles turned wine corks into coasters, selling for €5 each. Proceeds support Oxfam's international development programs.
  • Molenbeek Community Garden (Rue de la Propreté 1) offers upcycling workshops using garden waste. Participants learn to make compost bins from pallets or bird feeders from plastic bottles. The garden uses these items in its own operations and sells surplus at local markets, with funds reinvested into community gardening projects.

Step-by-Step: How to Organise Your Own Upcycling Workshop for Charity

If you're inspired to start your own initiative, here is a practical guide based on successful models in Brussels:

  1. Identify a charity partner — Reach out to organisations like food banks or soup kitchens to understand their needs. For example, a soup kitchen may need storage containers or serving trays, which you can upcycle from discarded items.
  2. Source materials — Collaborate with local businesses. Many Brussels shops donate unsold stock or packaging. For instance, the supermarket chain Carrefour (e.g., at Rue Neuve 1) provides clean cardboard boxes for free. Also, contact Recy-K, a social enterprise that collects industrial waste and sells it cheaply to workshops (€1 per kg for mixed materials).
  3. Choose a project — Pick a simple, replicable item. Popular choices include: tote bags from old T-shirts (requires only scissors), planters from tin cans, or notebook covers from cereal boxes. Ensure the project can be completed in 2–3 hours.
  4. Set a price — For charity, charge a participation fee or accept donations. Typical fees in Brussels range from €5 to €15 per person, covering materials and a small margin for the charity. For example, the workshop "Bottle Cap Magnets" at Maison de la Création costs €8, with €5 going to BXL Refugees.
  5. Promote the event — Use free platforms like Facebook Events and Eventbrite. Also, list your workshop on the Brussels Environment website (environment.brussels) under "Citizen Initiatives."
  6. Host the workshop — Secure a venue. Many community centres offer free or low-cost space. For example, Espace Seniors (Rue de la Loi 1, 1000) allows free use of its hall for charity events on weekends. Provide all tools and materials, and ensure clear instructions.
  7. Donate proceeds — After the workshop, transfer the funds to your charity partner and provide a receipt. Consider documenting the impact: for example, if you raised €200, that could buy 40 meals at a soup kitchen (€5 per meal).

Success Stories: Real Impact from Upcycling Workshops

Several Brussels initiatives have demonstrated measurable impact. Here are three examples:

  • Upcycling for the Homeless — In 2023, a group of volunteers from DoucheFLUX (a charity providing showers for homeless people) organised a workshop turning old sleeping bags into waterproof ponchos. The ponchos were distributed to homeless individuals during winter. The workshop used 50 discarded sleeping bags donated by a camping store, and 40 volunteers produced 60 ponchos in one day. The cost per poncho was €0 (materials donated), saving the charity an estimated €600 compared to buying new ponchos.
  • School Furniture Upcycling — The non-profit Le Début des Haricots in Saint-Gilles runs a program where volunteers refurbish discarded school furniture (chairs, desks) for underprivileged schools. In 2024, they collected 200 pieces from a school renovation, and through weekly workshops, restored them at a cost of €5 per piece (paint, varnish). The restored furniture was donated to three primary schools in Molenbeek, saving them an estimated €15,000.
  • Textile Upcycling for Job Training — Les Petits Riens operates a workshop in Anderlecht where long-term unemployed individuals learn to upcycle textiles into fashion accessories. The products are sold in their shops. In 2023, the workshop trained 25 people, 18 of whom found jobs in the fashion or retail sector within six months. The workshop generated €45,000 in sales, which funded the training program.

Getting Involved: Upcoming Workshops and How to Join

To participate in an upcycling workshop for charity, check the following resources:

  • Brussels Environment's Calendar — Visit environment.brussels and search for "upcycling." The calendar lists over 30 workshops per month, many with charity links. For example, in March 2025, a workshop at City Fab 1 on March 15 will focus on turning plastic bottle caps into jewellery, with proceeds to fundraiser concerts for local musicians.
  • Social Media Groups — Join the Facebook group "Upcycling Brussels" (4,500 members) where members post about charity workshops. Recent posts include a workshop on April 5 at Maison de la Création (€10 fee, benefiting DoucheFLUX).
  • Local Libraries — Several Brussels libraries, such as Bibliothèque de la Rue des Minimes (1000 Brussels), host monthly upcycling workshops. The next one is on April 10, 2025, from 14:00 to 17:00, focusing on book page art. Donations of €5 are suggested, with proceeds going to volunteer translation services for newcomers.

If you are unable to attend a workshop, you can still contribute by donating materials. Many charities accept clean, reusable items. For example, Les Petits Riens accepts furniture, textiles, and electronics at its drop-off points. Check their website for locations and accepted items.

Finally, consider organising your own workshop with friends or colleagues. The complete guide to community volunteering and solidarity in Brussels offers tips on starting initiatives, including legal requirements for fundraising.

Related articles

  • Molenbeek Community Garden: Growing Food and Community
  • Local Repair Cafes: Fixing Items and Building Connections
  • Solidarity Grocery Schaerbeek: Affordable Food for All
  • Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen: How to Help in Brussels
  • DoucheFLUX Brussels: Showers and Dignity for the Homeless