Resources

By repairing or re-using goods which still retain some operational value there are social, financial and environmental benefits in comparison to producing a brand new product.  

WRAP have produced a series of step-by-step guides aimed at encouraging more partnerships between local authorities, waste management companies and third sector organisations to deliver more re-use.

Local authorities may not be best placed to deliver messages to all audiences so it is important to look for partners such as medical services and advice networks. These services and networks can provide information to the parents prior to and after the birth of their baby, via classes, nappucinos (coffee mornings for new mothers) and other baby and toddler sessions etc.

The production, use and disposal of clothes has a significant environmental impact. After transport, utilities, construction, and food, the clothing industry represents the fifth-biggest environmental footprint of any UK business sector. 

Electrical and Electronic Equipment Sustainability Action Plan (esap) is a collaborative framework coordinated by WRAP for sharing evidence and implementing sector-wide actions to improve business efficiency and the sustainability of electrical and electronic products.

A WRAP study into the composition and re-use potential of household bulky textiles found that of all bulky waste in the UK around 19% (310,000 tonnes) consists of textiles.

The Furniture Re-use Network (FRN) indicates that around 30% of bulky waste collected from householders and/or collected at the HWRCs can be re-used. 

The repair and re-use of electrical and electronic products keeps valuable materials out of the waste stream for longer. Re-use organisations also have a positive social impact in the communities in which they operate.

The Sustainable Clothing Action Plan (SCAP) brings together clothing retailers, brands, suppliers, local authority representatives, recyclers, charities, trade bodies and the public sector to reduce the environmental footprint of clothing.

This section describes the opportunities for re-use of electrical and electronic products that would otherwise be discarded.

WRAP has produced this guide to help health, safety and environment managers; or others with management responsibilities to improve the efficiency of their organisation’s use of resources – e.g. raw materials, water, energy – as a means of improving the performance of their business.

Collaboration and flexibility forge re-use success. Local authorities in Oxfordshire have partnered with a local charity  to deliver a combined bulky waste collection service.