More can be done to stimulate reuse, but barriers needs to be addressed first, according to a CIWM report.
Launched by new CIWM president Margaret Bates, the report Reuse in the UK – a State of the Nations Report was produced for CIWM by Beasley Associates and Ray Georgeson Resources.
The report found that the business case for reuse is broad, and gives environmental, economic and social benefits.
A number of recommendations are put forward, including the need for more coordination and collaborative working between key industry bodies active in the reuse sector to support best practice and knowledge sharing and to maximise the impact of existing communications campaigns.
Capacity and skiils building is also identified as a priority, as is development of a more robust policy framework.
In her inaugural speech as CIWM president, Margaret Bates said: “This is a relatively neglected area of waste policy and yet one which has so much to offer both in practical terms and a vehicle to raise wider awareness about waste prevention – a difficult message to get across in today’s consumption driven society.
“One of my aims during the next year is to explore how CIWM can act as a focal point for some of the recommendations put forward in this report.”
