Reuse Network warns sector faces ‘uphill battle’ 

It comes as the Bristol-based waste prevention charity submitted its responses to two government consultations, the first being for Defra’s Waste Prevention Programme, and the second being the Office for Product Safety Standards (OPSS) on product safety.

In both responses, the charity called on policy makers to improve the repairability of products and improve access of information for the reuse sector.

The Reuse Network put forward a number of proposals to tackle “built-in obsolescence” of products, such as making it mandatory for manufacturers to publish repair manuals.

In a summary of the responses published last week, the charity said: “Our members welcome initiatives to improve the reusability and quality of products put on the market, including the demand for significantly longer warranties, and an end to the era of built-in obsolescence.”

Guidance

The Reuse Network has also called for better information for the reuse sector, as it works to update extensive guidance for the industry, which is funded by compliance scheme Ecosurety.

The guidance, ‘fit for reuse’, will provide updated regulations, standards and best practises for the repair and reuse of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) from across the sector.

The charity explained: “We will have to wait for the outcomes of both consultations, but it is the hope that policymakers begin to join the dots between product safety and circular economy policies. However, despite the constructive criticisms made in both consultations, it’s an exciting time to be at the heart of reuse, and we welcome being on board with where this journey leads.”

Social value

In the Reponses, the charity also argued that for too long, the huge social value of reuse has often been “overlooked” by decision-makers.

It argued that if the Reuse Network members were to cease existing overnight, the “burden” of the cost of social services they provide would be passed onto Local Authorities.

The Reuse Network said that it would like to see this net cost-benefit for taxpayers being priced into policy decisions., which it believes would ultimately lead to fewer products entering the waste stream.