SUEZ launches the second in a series of reuse and repair guides designed to “support and empower” local authorities taking the next step in the journey to a circular economy.
“The repair evolution” guide offers local authorities “practical steps” for the next stage in converting HWRCs to Household Reuse and Recycling Centres (HRRCs).
SUEZ says the new guide builds on key recommendations laid out in “Putting Reuse at the Heart of Your Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC)”, a guide launched by SUEZ last year (2022) that provides advice on scaling up and “maximising opportunities” for reuse at Household Waste Recycling Centres across the country.
The second guide looks at the next step in taking the journey up the waste hierarchy through the introduction of repair activities, alongside the reuse activities already in place.
SUEZ says its objective is to make reuse and repair more accessible and generate economic, environmental and social value as part of the circular economy.
Some of the tips in the guide include making sure local authorities have “sufficient space” where staff can safely test and make basic repair items.
We’re committed to sharing our knowledge and equipping local authorities with the tools to transform their activities.
The guide also suggests partnering with an organisation that can complement repair plans, upscaling reuse activities and identifying potential items for repair by getting feedback from retail channels and site staff.
Commenting on the new guide, Sarah Ottaway, Sustainability and Social Value Lead at SUEZ recycling and recovery UK, said: “We’ve used our years of experience to create this guide for local authorities to use when planning for the future of their HWRCs, to help them introduce repair into their operations, and realise the huge opportunities there are for their services, local communities and economies by doing so.
“Thanks to increasing awareness of the urgency to take action to combat the effects of climate change, repair is growing in popularity and is a fundamental element of the circular economy model.
“Combined with rising living costs, the drive to keep existing items in use for longer will increase, which is why we’re committed to sharing our knowledge and equipping local authorities with the tools to transform their activities.”
