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Reuse halls at the recycling centres.
Published on 31 August 2021
Sweden
Östra Mellansverige
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
In both the UN's global sustainability goals, the directive 2008/98/EC on waste and the national waste plan there is goals that requires increased preparation for reuse. As part of achieving those goals, Tekniska Verken in Linköping AB at their three recycling centers in Linköping have built up a reception for products for reuse. The recycling centers have traditionally been used to collect garden waste, electronics, bulky waste and other things that could not be left with ordinary residual waste in the door-to-door system. Every year, the recycling centers in Linköping have just over 500,000 visits. With the reuse halls residents of the municipality can also leave used goods and waste for reuse. The reuse halls are 200 square meters in size and are located in the beginning of the recycling centers The goods are handed over the counter, and staff on site make a first sorting. Collected goods is then donated to local charities, which then resells them in their own shops. By reusing things, their is extended lifespan, and we thus creating better conditions for a circular and resource-efficient society. The major savings in emissions and energy use are that the reused products can replace newly manufactured products and that the environmental impact of new manufacturing is thus avoided. Together with Linköping municipality, Tekniska verken I Linköping AB also offer work in the reuse halls, for people who are far from the labor market, e.g. unemployed or newly arrived.
Resources needed
Initial investment in a building for reception and sorting, reception and sorting staff.
Evidence of success
Studies suggest an estimated potential to prevent more than 80,000 tonnes of waste annually if Swedens 600 recycling centers were converted with reuse storage. In 2020 the goal for Tekniska verken I Linköping AB was to collect 600 tonnes for reuse, which was surpassed since 1059 tonnes were collected. That figure is in line with the estimated potential in the previous study, consider the population in Linköping.
Potential for learning or transfer
Similar solutions like Linköping is setup in many municipalities in Sweden, that indicates the transferability. The key is that goods can be left for reuse in the same place as other waste, thereby increasing the chance that the goods is left and becomes available for reuse, and secondly that it is not thrown away as waste. Studies made by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency suggest that despite the fact that many put the environment first when it comes to garbage, there are clear, albeit individual varying, limits on how much effort people are willing to put in. A problem that was previously raised about waste collection is that it can be perceived by the individual as easier to throw away than to leave for reuse. This solution with reuse halls at the same place as waste collection reduces that gap.
Good practice owner
Organisation
Tekniska Verken i Linköping AB
Sweden
Östra Mellansverige
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