CIWM Scotland ReUse Group

Background

Scotland’s Safeguarding Scotland’s Resources very much focuses on the circular economy as the framework for the way we manage and maximise our resources. Re-use, repair, remanufacturing are all functions which sit at the heart of the circular economy and are priority solutions of the waste hierarchy. It is these activities which will make contributions towards the waste prevention target within this policy document.

The private and public waste management sectors have a role to play in increasing the re-use potential from the waste stream. Re-use activity is low at present which is believed to be down to a number of barriers, with solutions:

- Existing collection and storage facilities need to be adapted to accommodate and support re-use
- Contracts may need to be adapted and developed to encourage re-use activity
- Staff training, processes and systems need to be developed to help accommodate re-use into today’s working practices
- Partnerships need to be formed to help deliver improved re-use
- Service delivery partnerships need to be developed to reach demand markets for re-usable goods and
- Connections made with existing re-use programmes across Scotland like the HWRC re-use improvements support, the National Re-use Phone Line and Revolve.

While re-use activities are not always straight forward, and are perceived to lack efficiencies, there are numerous benefits generated which build the business case for getting involved in re-use. Re-use generates income from sales, provides landfill savings, saves carbon impacts, generates jobs, saves householders money, provides training and volunteering opportunities and creates competiveness for contracts by fulfilling community benefits clauses through the creation of social-added value.

The scope of the group will be initially to focus on domestic and commercial products (EEE, furniture and textiles). The range of suitable products and services for re-use could be expanded over time.
There will probably be several areas of work;
1. Building of knowledge and understanding of re-use – evidence, impacts and savings, training across all staff.
2. Expanding the integration of existing re-use programmes within the public and private sector – National Re-use Phone Line, Revolve, Postcode Locator
3. Development and implementation of an improvement programme – through existing infrastructure, contracts, operations. Improvements to collection and storage, bulky waste services, training operatives, HWRC layout. This can be supported by ZWS.
4. Provide an active interface with the group on issues of legislation and regulation – notably the WEEE RECAST and Regulatory Reform Bill.  
5. Developing delivery partnerships with the existing re-use sector – specification of re-use services and the Revolve Standard in contracts, collaborative bids for public sector waste contracts

Group Strategic Objectives

1. Increase knowledge and understanding of re-use, through a programme of evidence, site visits and training, with the intention of influencing operational and strategic business behaviour in favour of re-use. Momentum will be generated and re-use will move up the agenda across all “resource” contracts.
2. Maximise re-use through existing waste infrastructure in Scotland, by supporting improvements to infrastructure and service contracts, by sharing expertise and knowledge from peer support and key external organisations like the CRNS.
3. To generate business opportunities across the sector, which increase goods for re-use, generate economic, environmental and social impacts. Engaging with external stakeholders like retailers and logistics firms to increase the possibilities of supply.
4. To be a valuable source of information to government and key policy makers to help inform and shape future policy by feeding into Government, strategy and regulation.

Membership 

Membership will be open to all those involved, or with an interest, in increasing reusable goods from the waste stream, improving re-use infrastructure and creating business opportunities in Scotland. 
In order for the group to achieve the strategic objectives, it is important to have a good representation of individuals from across the waste and resources management, public and third sector. A headline invite list would include; 
Local authorities, retailers, waste management companies, skip hire companies, SEPA, logistics firms providing transportation and DCF services, CRNS, Third sector, Re-processors, private repair firms

Members will be required to show a level of commitment and act in the best interests of the group. Members will be required to attend quarterly meetings.