The Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has today (24 February) released new materials to encourage partnership working on reuse.
According to WRAP, partnerships are ‘fundamental to success in establishing more reuse’, which can provide billions of pounds worth of benefits for the third sector and UK householders.
It stated that local authorities looking to increase recycling rates and reduce disposal, waste contractors looking to maximise the value of recovered materials and small businesses and charities operating in the sector can achieve ‘further success’ if they were to ‘pull together and share expertise’.
As such, it has released step-by-step guides on setting up partnership working, case studies demonstrating what can be achieved through partnership working, and an online tool that illustrates the environmental and economic impacts of reuse, to encourage organisations to work together to ‘reap the financial, social and environmental benefits of reuse’.
For example, it highlights how Surrey County Council and social enterprises and charities have worked together through the Surrey Re-use Network to divert 660 tonnes of material from landfill and recycling to reuse, providing free and affordable goods for 5,000 lower-income families.
‘Bringing big benefits to councils, organisations, individuals and the economy’
Linda Crichton, Head of Resource Management at WRAP, commented: “Keeping goods in use for longer is a critical part of delivering a circular economy. Not only does it reduce pressures on raw materials but has the potential to create new jobs and training opportunities.
“Successful partnerships are key to driving the reuse sector, but it does need a concerted effort by all involved. Done well and it will bring big benefits locally to councils, organisations, individuals and the economy.”
Richard Featherstone from the London Re-use Network added: “Establishing successful partnerships has its challenges, but it is crucial to realising the benefits that can come from reuse.
“The WRAP guides and case studies give direction and power-steering to the partnership process and gives inspiration from many different parts of the country where reuse is working today.”
In addition to the case studies and ‘how-to’ guides, WRAP will be hosting workshops in Warwickshire and London next month to demonstrate the key elements of partnership working, and showcase how the guides can be used in practice.
Find out more about the reuse materials and reuse workshops.
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