Reuse Network, an initiative to support reuse charities, has today (12 September) published up-to-date, official guidance on Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) repair and reuse.
The free guidance, titled ‘Fit for Reuse’ and funded by Ecosurety, aims to support reuse operators to meet the required standards to ‘run compliantly’ – informing how to collect handle, process, test, and repair electrical and electronic equipment.
Reuse Network says the guidance could help tackle the ‘growing mountain’ of old or unused electricals being recycled or disposed of. Through the charity's own service, this could increase the supply of high-quality, safe, repaired electrical goods to people that need them.
Features of ‘Fit for Reuse’ include photos, tips, check sheets, and downloadable and shareable information – creating guidance for technicians and managers, that Reuse Network describes as ‘written by the sector for the sector’.
As highlighted in the charity’s latest Social Impact Report, reuse organisations can be a ‘lifeline for people in crisis by supplying them with furniture and electrical good’. In 2021, 83 per cent of Reuse Network’s members reused electrical items.
Fit for Reuse is one of eight projects to receive support from the Ecosurety Exploration Fund, which has invested £1 million into projects that could reduce the environmental impact of packaging, batteries, or EEE in the UK.
Over 30 partners offer further aid – including Trading Standards, Electrical Safety First, Currys, Charity Fleetcare, Arena Training, and Reuse Network members.
Martin Macleod, CEO of Alness-based charity and Reuse Network member, ILM Highland said: “The introduction of the Fit for Reuse guidance will help ILM Highland to ensure that any repairs carried out by our Domestic Engineers are carried out to the recent industry standards.
“This in turn will give families on low incomes the confidence that the refurbished electrical items provided by ILM Highland will be repaired in a safe and proper manner. The more electrical items that can be repaired the less that will end up as waste, this helping with carbon savings and improving the environment.”
Will Ghali, CEO of Ecosurety, also commented: “We are pleased to support and witness the results of this important project which offers a real solution to a problem that has lingered for many years.
“Fit for Reuse will alleviate a lot of the frustration and confusion that might exist because of the lack of updated guidance to help reuse operators to run optimally. And it’s an assurance to producers that with the latest guidance now being available, their products can be reused and repaired safely.
“This is a positive step forward to facilitate repair and reuse and an acceleration towards a circular economy for electric and electronic equipment.”
Craig Anderson, Reuse Network CEO, added: “With Fit for Reuse, we have developed the most comprehensive and up-to-date guidance to standards for electrical equipment reuse
which will be used [nationwide] to standardise electrical reuse across the board.
“We are very excited to have been awarded funding from Ecosurety to update our Fit for Reuse guidance. This is a much-needed piece of work for the reuse sector, and we
would like to thank Ecosurety once again for selecting our project.”
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