Re-use and recycling initiatives - Good practices

Various experiences related with re-use of old furniture and recycling of its materials, have been identified. All these experiences and good practices are mostly implemented at the local or national level.

European action related with waste management is based on legislation rather than on measures and programmes.

However, the Commission tries to improve the waste situation through:

• Technical research
• Development of recycling industries
• Training
• Awareness-raising actions
• Exchange of good practices

This project aims at raising awareness among the persons and companies involved in the furniture business regarding the problem of furniture waste and to create a discussion among them based on the good practices and experiences existing in the different EU countries.

Existing and future experiences are not exhaustive.

Experiences in non-EU countries (like in the USA) have been neglected but often correspond to those identified in Europe.

It is clear that business alone can not improve the waste situation.

Consumers can (source: EU focus on waste management):

• Minimise the amount of waste generated
• Re-use products and packaging
• Collect waste separately for recycling
• …

Business can:

• Develop products and production techniques, which minimise waste generation and allow products to have minimum impact during its lifetime.
• Limit the amount of packaging
• …
  

Local authorities can:

• Adopt management plans and allocate needed resources
• Encourage consumers and business to minimise waste generation
• Facilitate waste recycling and recovery through separate containers
• Create partnerships with industry and business to find ways of reducing waste generation
• …