The Department has published a paper – ‘Clarifying the application of the definition of waste to reuse and repair activities’ – on which it is seeking feedback from stakeholders until January 30 2014.
The document provides an “introduction to the definition of waste, its application to reuse and repair activities and some of the problems that may occur”, and Defra adds that “whilst it will not capture all of the issues relating to the definition of waste, it does aim to progress discussion on the issues, table some conclusions and suggest a way forward”.
The consultation builds on priorities put forward in England’s Waste Prevention Programme, published in December 2013 (see letsrecycle.com story), which identified the need for clarification on the impacts and approaches to the definition of waste, particularly with regards to reuse and repair.
According to the paper, a call for evidence issued last year on the WPP identified a number of sectors – such as farming, construction and energy – where the “definition of waste has proved to be challenging when carrying out reuse and repair activities”.
Next steps
Whether material is defined as a waste or not can have significant implications for how it is handled.
As such, Defra is welcoming feedback on the matters covered by the paper, including “specific examples in your experience of where the definition of waste has acted as a barrier to reuse and repair activities”.
The Department is also seeking suggestions for changes that might support growth in the re-use and repair sector before the consultation deadline of Friday January 30 2015.
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And, in order to tackle any identified barriers, Defra will establish a working group in winter 2014/15 consisting of enforcement authorities, the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), representatives from the reuse and repair sector and the devolved administrations.
The working group will examine issues covered by the paper with a view to developing an action plan, as well as developing trial approaches in different sectors to help remove barriers to reuse and repair.
Definition
The paper explains that the current definition of waste has been used for more than 30 years and is embedded into the Waste Framework Directive (WFD), which indicates that once a material or item ceases to be required for its original purpose – usually because it is unsuitable or unwanted – it becomes waste.
In addition, the WFD sets out that ‘reuse’ means “any operation by which products or components that are not waste are used again for the same purpose for which they were conceived (repair is allowed)”. Products can be used again once they have undergone a ‘preparing for reuse’ process.
Furniture Re-use Network
The Furniture Re-use Network (FRN) welcomed the launch of consultation and Defra’s intention to review the “impact and the manner in which waste is defined and is interpreted in the case of reuse”.
However, the not-for-profit organisation said there was no need to change regulatory requirements, but rather to look at their interpretation, arguing that “if you change the definition you may open up the reuse market to sham reusers and the illegal trade in what used to be waste”.
Craig Anderson, chief executive of the FRN, said: “Reuse is primarily not about waste; it is about a product continuing to be used through a secondary consumer – it just so happens that sometimes the product was found in the UK waste stream.”
He added: “We are all for an easier life for our reuse sector, but at the same time we need to look at the risks of potentially hazardous products and hazardous waste being abused by disreputable organisations in the waste sector – we need better regulation not deregulation.”
Related Links:
–Defra – Clarifying the application of the Definition of Waste
–Furniture Reuse Network
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