Environmental guidance for your business in Northern Ireland & Scotland
The concept of 'reuse' is well understood at a community level and the reusing practice is widespread for domestic goods. However, to support the transition to a circular economy, the practice needs to be adopted more widely at a business and industry level as well.
Reuse is about enabling a material or product to continue being used for its original purpose, even though it has become surplus to your needs – achieving this simply by changing owner. Doing this retains the inherent value of the materials and requires no reprocessing of the product. This makes it a better option for the environment than recycling - which involves breaking the product down and remaking the same thing or producing something else.
By reusing materials and goods we are reducing the use of virgin materials and energy; and the air and water pollution associated with the raw material's extraction (e.g. mining, quarrying and logging), processing and manufacture.
Managing your waste for a circular economy - recycling and beyond
Designing your product, service and business model for a circular economy
Reuse
SEPA Special Waste Consignment Notes – updated position, The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is now accepting special waste consignment notes (SWCNs) by email only.
DAERA Waste Policy Tracker, The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has published a Waste policy tracker to stay informed of waste policy developments.
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