Earlier this week (10 January), FCC Environment announced its Reuse Strategy, entitled ‘Hitting Targets, Enhancing Lives’.
In a statement, the company said that its commitment to reuse has shaped its commercial operations for a number of years, ‘with the benefits far outstripping its initial expectations’. This commitment, FCC Environment states, has seen usable items diverted away from landfill and sold at charity-run reuse shops located at the company’s household waste recycling centres (HWRCs).
Commenting on the launch of the strategy, FCC Environment’s Head of External Affairs, Julie Fourcade said: “Reuse sits under ‘reduce’ at the top of the waste hierarchy, so it is extremely important that as one of the UK’s largest waste management companies, we make it as easy as possible for the public to reuse items.”
Polling conducted by YouGov and commissioned by FCC Environment in 2020 found that 44 per cent of respondents had bought items from a reuse shop at their local HWRC.
Funds raised via the sale of reused items are invested in funding local services. Alongside this, salvage bikes are also donated to a number of prisons, where they are restored by inmates and subsequently sold to raise money for local charities.
Julie added: “Through our reuse shops, not only have we been able to meet the demands of the waste hierarchy, but we have also been able to bring value to some of the most marginalised in our communities. At FCC Environment, we believe reuse should be a priority, and it’s heartening to see that the public thinks so too.”
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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.