A second chance for employees

Waste processing company Avalex launched the "Winning" project with partners at the end of 2023 to save functional items from the landfill. They were looking for two new employees for this project. They found Theo Christodoulou and Agus Sotedjo. Neither had ever imagined working with waste, but they are pleasantly surprised by their new jobs.

Theo and Agus collect used items that are still perfectly usable in two containers. One container is for wood, the other for anything that's not broken. "We approach people who want to dispose of their belongings at Avalex. Before they drive in, we ask if they have any items that aren't broken and might deserve a second life," says Theo. "We then assess whether the items are in good condition."

Radios, televisions and boxes full of books
All sorts of things are brought in: "Clothing, televisions, radios, antiques, and we get a tremendous amount of good books," says Theo. "By authors like Dostoevsky, and recently, Multatuli was among them. We also once received five boxes of historical books from Delft University of Technology. I'd love to read all those books, but of course that's not possible. I'm working, after all." Theo—originally Greek—lost his job during the coronavirus pandemic. When his benefits stopped, he joined Werkse! rightly so. 'It was a difficult time. I was going through a divorce with my wife and became depressed. At Werkse! I followed various programs to discover my strengths. Then they offered me this job.

At first, Theo wasn't sure what the job entailed. "I wouldn't have chosen this myself, but I wanted to give it a try. I have to say, I enjoy it more than I expected. I meet a lot of new people and find it interesting to see what kind of things we can salvage from the trash. I feel much happier since I started doing this work." The most unique product he's encountered is a telescope. "In the Netherlands, it's actually too bright, but in Greece, you can see all the stars very well with it. I think it's special that we can give these kinds of things a second chance."

Making people aware of waste
Agus also finds it interesting to save waste and raise awareness about their behavior. "I think young people throw things away more easily than older people. We were raised to be more frugal. It's good to make people aware of that again." Agus worked in the greenhouses until 2015, but lost his job after a reorganization. "Because I was already a bit older then, I couldn't find a new job. I applied everywhere for three years, but wasn't hired anywhere. Then I went back to Indonesia, where I'm from, to share my knowledge about greenhouses. I was temporarily in the Netherlands when the coronavirus outbreak hit, and I couldn't return to Indonesia for two and a half years, which meant the project stopped. Then my wife got sick, and I became a caregiver. When she passed away in July 2023, I came to... Werkse! rightly so.

He enjoys his work at Avalex, but he's eager to grow. "I hope one day I can advise people about waste, or help out with the collection service. That sounds like a wonderful job. This job is also enjoyable, but it's the easiest job I've ever had." Agus advises other job seekers to just get started. "Don't be afraid, you learn by doing. If you have the motivation to work, things will work out just fine."