Sign inSubmit Idea

Community mutual aid

Inspired by Community mutual aid: practical solarpunk projects you can start or join today.

We help each other first.

Ideas
167
Initiatives
140
Browse all ideas →

Top ideas for Community mutual aid

Repair & ReuseMunich

Hofflohmärkte, neighbourhood courtyard flea markets

Browse linked tour plans through your Viertel Hofflohmärkte is a Germany-wide reuse programme: residents register a private courtyard, garden, or garage and sell pre-loved goods while neighbours follow a linked tour plan through the district. The platform runs in 30+ cities and 300+ neighbourhoods; initiator René Götz operates registration, participants organise their own courtyards. What you can do - Download the tour plan PDF for your Viertel (published about one week before each market day) - Walk the linked addresses and buy second-hand treasures from neighbours - Register your own Hof if you have landlord approval and goods to pass on How it works - Sales stay on private ground only, not sidewalks or public space - Typical hours: Saturdays 10–16, Sundays 11–16 (Munich also runs selected Friday evenings with M-net sponsorship) - No food sales; private sellers only, professional dealers are not welcome - Registration closes three weeks before each date for tour-plan marking; late sign-ups are accepted but may not appear on the map - Organisers may cancel a date if fewer than 30 courtyards register, fees are then refunded About Hofflohmärkte Neighbours register a private Hof, Garten, or Garage on Hofflohmärkte and sell used goods on scheduled Viertel days. Registered addresses appear on a tour plan published about one week before each date. Sales happen on private ground only. See city pages for local schedules and Spielregeln & Tipps for seller rules. Why it matters Every item re-homed from a courtyard is one less thing bought new or landfilled, and a chance to meet the people who live behind the front doors. Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. Source: Hofflohmärkte · Rules: Spielregeln & Tipps. Platform operator: René Götz, participants organise their own courtyards.
flea marketreuseneighbourhoodcourtyardGermany
Food & GardenCologne

Get a Biotonne: close the compost loop

The simplest “zero waste” win in Cologne About 40% of what lands in the grey residual bin is compostable organic waste. In Niehl it is burned: costing money, CO₂, and fertile matter that could return to parks and gardens as torffreier Kölner Kompost. What you can do - Ask your landlord for the free brown Biotonne (tenants can use Zero Waste Köln’s postcard template on their project page). - Line the bin with newspaper, keep it in the shade, and skip “compostable” plastic bags: they need industrial conditions Cologne’s plants do not offer. - Buy Kölner Kompost or Blumenerde from AWB/AVG outlets (the Verein advocates more neighbourhood pick-up points). Why it matters Separate bio collection has been mandatory in Germany since 2015, but Cologne households still need to request the bin. Less bio in residual waste can mean a smaller (cheaper) grey bin. Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. Facts and advocacy: Biotonne & Kompost · Collection rules: AWB Köln · Organiser: Zero Waste Köln e.V.
compostcircularlocal
CommunityCologne

Walk Cologne with the Zero Waste Schweif

A playful city stroll: you choose the time Grab the Schweif booklet and one to four friends, then wander your Kiez with small tasks that help you spot waste, reuse, and resources in everyday streets. No tour guide: you set the pace. How it works - Pick up a booklet at partner cafés, unverpackt shops, or Zero Waste Köln info stands (hours vary by location). - Work through quizzes and observation prompts designed in Cologne, usable in any urban neighbourhood. - Optional deep-dive facts on the project page after you have tried the riddles yourself. Why it matters Cologne burns roughly 2,000 tonnes of waste every day; the Schweif turns that abstract number into curiosity about what we throw away and what could stay in the loop. Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. Project and pick-up map: Zero Waste Schweif · Organiser: Zero Waste Köln e.V.
walkingeducationlocal
CommunityFrankfurt

Clothes swap party in your Kiez

Swap fashion joyfully: no money, just neighbours Host an afternoon clothes exchange in a park or courtyard: bring what you do not wear, leave with something new-to-you, good music optional. What you can do - Set up rails and mirrors; welcome first-timers with a simple “take one, leave one” rule - Partner with Greenpeace Frankfurt Makesomething or join Frankfurter Wandeltage formats - Document sizes and categories so the swap stays fun, not chaotic Why it matters Still-wearable textiles too often burn; swapping keeps joy in fashion while keeping tonnes out of incineration. Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. Programme hub: Zero Waste Frankfurt · Swap formats: Makesomething · Frankfurter Wandeltage
swapfashionfree
Repair & ReuseFrankfurt

Zerowaste Frankfurt

Der Zero Waste Guide für Frankurt: Abfall reduzieren heißt Klima schützen. Kampagne: Gemeinsam mit allen Menschen in Frankfurt wollen wir den Restmüll pro Kopf und Jahr von derzeit 205 kg auf 120 kg reduzieren. Was ist Zero Waste? Frankfurt möchte, als eine der ersten Städte Deutschlands, Zero Waste City werden. Was genau bedeutet das? Wirklich gar kein Abfall mehr? Zero Waste meint „keine Verschwendung“. Und damit weniger Müll. Genau dies ist das Ziel unserer groß angelegten Dafür gibt es viele interessante und motivierende Aktionen und Angebote. Wir möchten dich zum Mitmachen ermutigen. Denn: Sich gemeinsam gegen Verschwendung und für den Erhalt von Rohstoffen einzusetzen, macht Spaß und ist ganz einfach im Alltag möglich. Privat genauso wie im Job. Zero Waste Initiativen & Projekte in und um Frankfurt https://zerowaste-ffm.de/initiativenprojekte/ © Umweltamt der Stadt Frankfurt am Main 2026
circular economyreusereduce
Rafael
Repair & ReuseFrankfurt

Reusable cup & takeaway box network

Help Frankfurt's returnable cup pool circulate Map cafés and kiosks that lend reusable cups and takeaway boxes along the river and main streets, one returnable cup beats a mountain of single-use. What you can do - Use #MainMehrweg and #MainBecher to find participating venues - Return cups to any partner point, not only where you borrowed - Encourage local businesses to join the pool if they are not listed yet Why it matters Reuse systems only work when enough people return, neighbourhood champions keep the loop spinning. Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. Programme hub: Zero Waste Frankfurt · #MainMehrweg · #MainBecher
reusecircularlocal
Food & GardenFrankfurt

Rescue food with a neighborhood fridge

Stock a fair-share fridge for surplus food Team up to place or maintain a neighbourhood fridge where bread, produce, and meals find neighbours instead of bins. What you can do - Join Foodsharing Frankfurt or find fridges on the Fairteiler map - Coordinate a simple hygiene rota and labelling so donors know what is welcome - Pair fridge duty with a local bakery or market stall that has predictable surplus Why it matters Food rescue turns everyday surplus into mutual aid: less waste, more trust on the block. Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. Programme hub: Zero Waste Frankfurt · Foodsharing Frankfurt · Fairteiler map
foodsharingcommunity
Repair & ReuseFrankfurt

Creative upcycling workshop

Turn scraps and broken goods into something loved Gather makers to patch clothes, sew tote bags, or fix simple furniture, one technique per session, tools and stories shared. What you can do - Join workshops via Frankfurter Plattform 55+: Rethink Fashion - Browse social upcycling products at Caritas Einzigware - Host a table at your community centre with fabric scraps and a sewing machine Why it matters Making extends an object's life and builds skills that outlast any shopping trend. Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. Programme hub: Zero Waste Frankfurt · Rethink Fashion · Caritas Einzigware
makingskillsworkshop
Food & GardenQuito

Join Quito's community compost and zero waste network

Municipal tools: neighbourhood compost Ecuador’s Alianza Basura Cero documents a growing compost network and municipal zero waste ordinances residents can advocate for locally. The alliance publishes a model ordinance and maps community compost sites, from Pomasqui and Cotacachi to neighbourhood clubs such as Club del Compost in Bellavista. What you can do - Find a mapped compostera comunitaria near you and volunteer for a work day. - Ask your parish or neighbourhood council to adopt zero-waste ordinance language from the alliance toolkit. Why it matters Community compost keeps food sovereignty and soil health local while giving municipalities a replicable legal frame, reuse included, not just collection. Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. - Report chapter: Zero Waste Europe: Latin America & the Caribbean (5th ed.) · Toolkit: Alianza Basura Cero, zero waste ordinance · Network hub: Alianza Basura Cero Ecuador
compostordinancecommunity
CommunityFrankfurt

Community refill & bag-share spots

Map refill taps and borrowable bags Chart vinegar, oil, and water refill points plus bag-sharing stations so neighbours borrow instead of buy, start with three trusted locations and grow the map together. What you can do - Visit Frankfurter Fass for bulk vinegar and oils - Fill your bottle at Refill Frankfurt partner taps - Use Taschenstationen to borrow a bag when you shop Why it matters Small daily habits, one refill, one borrowed bag, add up to a city that wastes less without feeling deprived. Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. Programme hub: Zero Waste Frankfurt · Frankfurter Fass · Refill Frankfurt · Taschenstationen
refillwatersharing
CommunityCologne

Swap clothes with Team Tausch

Tauschen statt verbrennen: swap instead of burning Team Tausch runs small and large Kleidertausch events across Cologne. An estimated quarter of wardrobe pieces never get worn; locally, thousands of tonnes of still-wearable textiles are incinerated each year. Swapping keeps joy in fashion without the waste. What happens at a swap - Bring clean, good-condition clothes you no longer wear; take home something new-to-you. - Volunteers help with setup, guest welcome, sorting on racks, and (at larger events) a textile repair corner. - Many evenings end with music and drinks at partner venues such as the Wohngemeinschaft. Join in - Drop in as a visitor: dates are on the event calendar. - Volunteer for a 4-hour shift (no fixed commitment); cafés and community spaces can host new locations. Why it matters Swapping keeps wearable textiles out of incineration and builds neighbourhood joy around fashion without new purchases. Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. Details: Kleidertausch-Events · Kalender · Organiser: Zero Waste Köln e.V.
swapfashionvolunteer
Food & GardenSão Paulo

Compost organics with waste pickers in São Paulo

Catadoras and catadores lead the loop Instituto Polis and the Brasil Composta Cultiva network support community composting and organic-waste treatment, now active across ten Brazilian states, with São Paulo as a flagship hub. The 2025 regional report cites recycler participation in organic management as a top Latin American success story. What you can do - Join a compost tour or training led by waste-picker leaders in the São Paulo metro area. - Start or support a neighbourhood compost point that partners with local catadoras/es. Why it matters Organic diversion cuts methane from landfills while keeping recycler cooperatives at the centre of the system, not at its margins. Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. - Report chapter: Zero Waste Europe: Latin America & the Caribbean (5th ed.) · Programme: Brasil Composta Cultiva, what we do · Tour example: Compost tour with recyclers
compostrecyclersorganics

Upcoming initiatives for Community mutual aid

KielMon, Apr 13

Kieler Klimathon 2026: six-week challenge

Small daily shifts: city-wide prizes The app-based Klimathon runs themed weekly challenges on housing, food, mobility, consumption, and digital life, including Kiel-specific tasks that earn climate points redeemable at local partners. When & where - 13 April - 24 May 2026 (join any time while open) - City-wide app challenge, map pin is central Kiel; individuals, teams, workplaces, and school classes welcome How to join Register via kiel.de/klimathon, confirm current rules on the city site. Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. Zero Waste News: Klimathon2026 · Organiser: Landeshauptstadt Kiel
Bring friends.
BarcelonaMon, Apr 20

Youth Policy Dialogue on Affordable Housing (Barcelona)

Young citizens discuss energy and housing fairness with EU leadership Youth Policy Dialogues give young people a platform to contribute to EU policymaking through constructive discussions with Commissioners. Commissioner Dan Jørgensen held a dialogue on the European Affordable Housing Plan in Barcelona, Spain, on 20 April 2026. When & where - 20 April 2026: Barcelona, Spain (approximate pin: 41.3851, 2.1734) How to participate - Follow DG Energy and EUSEW announcements for future Youth Policy Dialogue open registrations - Organise a local pre-dialogue in your city to collect youth input on housing and energy costs Why it matters Energy poverty and housing costs hit young households first, structured dialogues give builders a seat before policies are set in stone. Source & repost Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it. Source: European Commission: DG Energy. © European Union.
Lead it.
KielSat, May 9

Reparatur & Upcycling Festival 2026

Gemeinsam Altes neu gestalten The second city-wide repair and upcycling festival fills the Anscharcampus with workshops, DIY stations, talks, a creative market, and regional food. When & where - Saturday 9 May 2026, 10:00-19:00 CEST - Coworkhaus, Anscharcampus, Weimarer Straße 6, 24118 Kiel (Wik) What to bring Broken textiles, bikes, small furniture, or curiosity, programme details on the festival site linked from city news. Source & repost Solarpunker reposts this event listing. Zero Waste News: RepUpFestival2026 · Programme: Zero.Waste.City Kiel
Lead it.
LeipzigThu, Jun 4

Clothing repair workshop at Wiederschön

Neues Leben für alte Kleidung Learn to patch rips, sew buttons, and refresh garments you already own. Bring your own project; a small amount of practice material is available. When & where - Thursday 4 June 2026, 17:00-19:00 CEST - Konzeptladen Wiederschön, Höfe am Brühl, 1st floor (near Müller) Registration Places are limited: register via the organiser (see event page / Instagram). Confirm before travelling. Source & repost Solarpunker reposts this event listing. Event page · Termine · Organiser: Stadtreinigung Leipzig
Be the first.