Achim

This is Achim.  He’s a great musician and we usually play at least one gig with him each year.  Today we meet him at work.  He runs what can loosely be described a recycling centre.  But it’s much, much more than that.

He takes things that society no longer wants and turns them into something useful.  This includes people.

He has a staff of over 100, mostly drawn from the unemployed - some with learning difficulties.  He’s been doing this for 35 years with no state funding or financial help of any sort.  The recycled goods - clothes, electrical items, books, furniture, bicycles ……. are sold in 7 shops throughout the area and the business now turns over €1,000,000 a year.

It would take too long to describe fully the range of items and the creativity that goes into making something from others’ rubbish.  But a couple of examples;  the shopping bag he’s modelling is made from fabric remnants and the handle is made from a car seatbelt.  And Anniemay tests out a recliner made from old office chair backs (see extra).

An amazing man.