Recycling, solar energy, the new destiny of the Montclus cooperative cellar

The gigantic cooperative cellar, built in 1929, stands like a guardian at the entrance to the village. Here the lower part of the Recyclerie. Behind, the municipal workshops. Midi Libre – C.C.

The upper part of the Recyclerie, on the side of the road. Photovoltaic panels have been installed on the roof of the cooperative cellar. The inauguration took place late Tuesday afternoon. Midi Libre – C.C.

Mayor Benoît Trichot, municipal councilors, prefect Jérôme Bonet and Christophe Serre, vice-president of the Department, cut the ribbon. Midi Libre – C.C.

Inauguration par le maire, les conseillers municipaux, le préfet et le vice-président du Département. La réfection complète du toit et l’installation des panneaux photovoltaïques ont été financées à hauteur de 70 % par l’État, via le plan France Relance. Midi Libre – C. C.

The resource center, created in 2016 by the association La Soupe aux cailloux, extends throughout the Cèze valley and beyond. On Tuesday, the energy renovation of the imposing building, made possible thanks to state funding, was inaugurated in the presence of the prefect, numerous elected officials and people involved in the association. It is also the story of a preserved cultural heritage.

"See the happiness of a grandma who finds the cup of a special service, helping families to furnish themselves, associations, schools, parents who dress their children for the season for 15 €", recounts cheerfully Anna Michalski, president of La Soupe aux cailloux, the Barjac association which one day knocked on the door of the Montclus town hall, looking for a large premises to create a recycling plant, in 2016.
Tuesday May 7, 2024, ribbon cut and plaque unveiled during the inauguration of the energy renovation of this former rehabilitated wine cooperative cellar "with the idea of ​​policy green and united. It has four functions: recycling, a 34 kW photovoltaic plant, a rainwater reserve (a large pierced tank) and municipal workshops (150 m2) ; summarized the mayor, Benoît Trichot. His father was the last president of this cooperative winery founded in 1929, "during the vast movement of this period, as a response to the crisis of the time. There are around 600 in the region. It thus retains a utilitarian function and remains the symbol of a culture, of a community and egalitarian impulse. As written on the pediment of a Hérault cellar: "All for each, each for all”.

For the town of Montclus, an investment repaid in five years

The municipality bought the building in 1999. With the creation of the recycling plant, "with small means, we rebuilt it little by little. The roof was a real problem".
2020: the France Relance plan is launched, with an energy component and a territorial cohesion component. The municipal team of Montclus, supported by the prefecture, is putting together a file. "France Relance finances 70 %, the municipality therefore paid 110 000 €. With the resale of the electricity produced, this will be repaid in five years, thanked the mayor in front of the prefect Jérôme Bonet, the vice-president of the Department Christophe Serre, elected officials neighbors and representatives of the Agglo, the Recyclerie team…
The roof was completely redone, photovoltaic panels were installed which Enedis finally (the delays were long) connected to the network in November. "A rehabilitation and conversion of the building, thanks to the State which effectively supported our territory, for the common good. All for everyone, each for all!", continued Benoît Trichot, happy to preserve this agricultural heritage. This type of achievement "gives the full meaning of being in the service of the State, underlined the prefect. There is a public policy to support rurality. Public money belongs to us all […]. I love these places where we meet.& quot;

"We bring to life a place where there was nothing!" and the desire to increase the number of anti-waste workshops

Pierre, a volunteer from the beginning, will confirm: "We are bringing life to a place where there was nothing! I am amazed at this development." "It's explodinge, adds Aurélie, employee since 2020. La Recyclerie radiates beyond the valley, some come from far away. We would like to set up more workshops around recycling."
Next files for the Cailloux Soup team: finding solutions for parking, "the building is well placed, on the side of the road" but the surroundings are not enough pas…"We must also work with the Agglo on the question of our access to recycling centers. It would be interesting to weigh everything that we repair and sell, which does not go in the dumpster", explains the president. The team’s desire is to multiply workshops and meetings around anti-waste.
This summer, five employees (part-time) will work alongside an army of volunteers."We are proud to be able to give work, without subsidy, without anything ! We have a lot of demand, we need to organize ourselves more. This group of motivated people does good to many people. "

La Recyclerie is open from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Next major project: the rehabilitation of the water networks and the paving of the streets

With the prefecture, the Montclus municipal council worked on on a file which will see the light of day in September. "Rehabilitate the streets and pave them", confides the mayor. With, in theory, 20% covered by the State, 25% by the Gard territorial contract and 30% by the Gard territorial contract. Agglo. Either a subsidized construction site; à height of 75%. An application is in progress with the Drac for a subsidy for amount of 5% of the total cost of the project. Would remain 20% à responsible for the small town with meager resources. "Everything started from dilapidationé networks which did not allow a good water supply to the fire hydrant, explains Benoît Trichot. The Agglo will finance the repair of water and sanitation networks." Works which will be carried out in September October. In the process, one of the first three sections of the street paving, between the visitor parking lot and the old center ("we lowered’ oacute; on the tourist's path"), will begin.
Second installment in 2025 and third in 2026. Total cost, 900,000 euros. The rest à charge for Montclus would be reimbursed in three years for each tranche, with the income from paid parking, which brings in 25,000,000 euros; per year.

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