Reusing products or materials is one step up in the waste hierarchy from our sector’s bread and butter; recycling and then disposal. Reuse includes repairing items, repurposing them for new uses, or donating them to others who can make use of them. On Tuesday 30 April, we held a waste min webinar, during which we heard from members who are prioritising waste minimisation at their councils. It was inspiring stuff!
During the webinar, we heard about the Recycling Discovery Centre based in Merseyside & Halton, which is working in partnership with Veolia. They offer education about recycling services, tours of the local MRFs, basic cooking skills to reduce food waste, repair shops, and so much more. ReLondon spoke about London Repair Week, and through glimpses of their repair heroes, we saw how the movement is building year on year and starting to show real uptake from residents who are embracing repair in their communities, and an unexpected benefit of helping to reduce loneliness and social isolation. We ended on a creative note with Wigan Council and their partner FCC Environmental, who showcased the ‘Last Chance Saloon’ a unique approach to showcasing reuse to residents who use the HWRC and to glam up and revolutionise the bag-splitting approach they had previously used to encourage more recycling from residents.
Of course, the most desirable option is to prevent waste from being generated in the first place. But this involves minimising consumption, choosing reusable products, and redesigning processes to eliminate waste. This is not within the control of recycling and waste services of local authorities, which only makes the efforts of officers who put their heads together and deliver on the higher end of the waste hierarchy even more commendable.
Policy needs to start aligning with circular economy goals if we are to ever move from piecemeal approaches to reuse and repair. In a culture that has become accustomed to disposability, repairing items has become somewhat of a lost art. However, as we face mounting environmental challenges, the importance of embracing repair as a fundamental aspect of the waste hierarchy cannot be overstated. Thanks again to all of you who presented on the webinar – it is both impressive and heartwarming to see people come together to preserve materials and to champion a new, more sustainable way of living.
If you missed the webinar, want to view or download the presentation slides, or want to rewatch, you can do that here.
