When you think of a recycling center in America, what image comes to mind? Recycling centers where I live remind me of smelly and disgusting places located next to trash.

A recycling center and program in Reggio Emilia, Italy is called REmida. It is totally different than what I have experienced with recycling centers in America. REmida is a beautiful place full of opportunity.

Entities outside of Reggio Emilia schools support early childhood education in this region of Italy. Many community-based programs exist in Emilia-Romagna that have meaningful contributions for professionals working with young children. One of them is REmida. It is a center devoted to providing materials for early childhood educators. In the tradition of the atelier, artistic expression in childhood is enhanced when early childhood professionals have resources.

REmida is a place where businesses donate their surplus materials and resources for teachers. For example, fashion houses like nearby Max Mara donate textiles that would otherwise be thrown away. RE (means king in Italian and also it represents the initials of Reggio Emilia) + Mida is based on the idea of turning trash to treasure. King Midas had a special gift of turning things into gold - the “Midas touch.” Giving new life to things is the point of REmida for teachers. A membership to REmida costs Italian educators about 40 euros (which would be less than $50 USD for conversion rate in 2023 when I write this) for the year. Teachers have unlimited use with their annual membership meaning they can take anything they want from REmida. The day we visited there were several teachers who got off work at 4pm on Thursday and were shopping the REmida Center for their classes. They packed their shopping carts full of endless possibilities to use in their classrooms and services for children and their families.

Recycling centers might be unpleasant places connected with landfills in some communities. Not REmida. REmida is a beautiful environment in a nice area that is welcoming. The physical space invites creativity with the way materials are displayed throughout the large building in Reggio Emilia.

Not far from REmida is a big supermarket, residential neighborhood, and sports facility dedicated to the memory of basketball player Kobe Bryant who lived here in his youth when his father was a professional athlete and moved the family to Reggio Emilia. Bryant is gone but not forgotten in Reggio Emilia, and the town adores him as evidenced by monuments and streets named after him.

REmida is supported by Reggio Emilia Foundation, municipality, private investors, and infant/toddler centers. There are 12 of these in the world. “Stare insieme” means how to be together. Maybe communities can learn from this approach and come together with resources for educators.