The separate collection of textiles will become mandatory in the EU from January 2025 and Member States will need to put in place an appropriate legislative framework and infrastructure [1]. To this end, the European Commission has mandated Member States to introduce...
Joint Position paper on the Revision of the Directive on Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
The demand for Electrical and Electronic Equipment devices is on the rise. However, this demand is depleting valuable resources while leading to high energy consumption. The current Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive) is no longer fit for purpose. Along with other environmental organisations in Europe, RREUSE has produced a joint position paper with ten recommendations to revise, expand and update the existing Directive and alleviate these issues.
How Inclusive Skills Can Boost the Circular Economy: Recommendations from Social Enterprises
RREUSE has published a new Position Paper highlighting data on skills from its network and policy recommendations for the 2023 European Year of Skills. Social enterprises carry a long tradition of providing inclusive circular upskilling and reskilling to vulnerable groups. They foster manual circular skills necessary for a circular economy, social cohesion and job creation.
How to reduce our dependency on critical raw materials by stimulating circularity
RREUSE, ECOS, and Deutsche Umwelthilfe produced a joint position paper on a reducing our dependency on Critical Raw Materials, which was submitted as answer to the consultation following the publication of the Regulation. Critical raw materials are used in a growing array of products, including renewable energy technologies, electronic and electrical equipment, and batteries for electric vehicles.
Buying Social and Green from Social Enterprises – RREUSE Updated Position paper on the Public Procurement Directive 2014/24
RREUSE finds the existing voluntary approach to foster social and environmental considerations in public purchases insufficient to encourage using public procurement to achieve key policy objectives.
RREUSE Position Paper on the Revised VAT Directive
RREUSE believes that Member States should make use of the current window of opportunity for updating Value Added Tax (VAT) rules to create a better taxation framework for social enterprises active in the circular economy. Reduced VAT rates and exemptions on the basis of social and environmental activities are an essential instrument to acknowledge social enterprises’ large contribution to fostering work integration opportunities, green skilling, and the objectives of a circular economy, in line with the EU Social Economy and Circular Economy Action Plans.
Achieving a fair and inclusive circular transition through the EU Social Economy Action Plan
The COVID-19 recession has further exacerbated existing inequalities and highlighted the interrelation between social problems and precarity, as well as the drawbacks of the current economic model. However, the crisis could also serve as a catalyst to redesign our...
Urgent call to improve WEEE treatment, collection, logistics and preparation for re-use in Europe
This joint position co-signed by 12 environmental NGOs and representatives of waste treatment operators calls for setting new European legal requirements to improve collection, logistics and preparation for re-use of e-waste and electronic equipment (WEEE). A revision...
RREUSE comments on the European Semester 2020
Introduced in 2010, the European Semester is a multi-annual exchange between the European Commission and Member States, providing a structure to coordinate macroeconomic policies across the EU. The goal of the European Semester is to ensure macroeconomic stability and...
Extended Producer Responsibility and the role of social economy re-use operators: Implementing a socially inclusive waste hierarchy
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a tool placing responsibility on producers, importers and retailers to financially and/or physically manage the post-consumer phase of certain goods. EPR aims to prevent the unnecessary production of waste, manufacture better...
France to create a Solidarity Re-use Fund (and other re-use friendly measures)!
Member States have until the 4th of July 2020 to transpose the updated Waste Framework Directive. After a final vote in the Senate on the 30th of January, France is now the first to validate its transposition law. Among other ambitious proposals, the text will trigger...
WEEE preparation for re-use: Position on CENELEC standards for the sector
A professional approach to the preparation for reuse[1] of WEEE[2] is essential both in terms of consumer safety and confidence when purchasing second-hand goods. It is also important because of health, safety and environmental issues, particularly considering the...