Six ecosystems
E6 will pilot 6 RRR ecosystems in 5 countries across North West Europe to increase the
regions’ capacities to manage EEE reuse, repair and refurbishment.
Greater Nevers Urban Area (France)
In the Greater Nevers Urban Area encompassing 14 towns and approximately 70,000 inhabitants, a pioneering initiative is underway to harness the power of reuse in electronics. Benefiting from a supportive French legal framework and a thriving local social and NGO landscape, the territory is poised to transform its approach to electronic waste (EEE) management (in particular IT equipment).
At its core, the initiative aims to cultivate a virtuous ecosystem by refurbishing locally sourced EEE and selling it to local authorities, businesses, and residents. Simultaneously, it seeks to alleviate electronic waste by collecting unused devices, refurbishing them and creating new market opportunities for their resale. This endeavor is rooted in the principles of the circular economy, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and sustainability across environmental, social, and economic dimensions.
Drawing inspiration from international collaboration, the Nevers partners have exchanged insights with the City of The Hague, leveraging shared goals and experiences in conducting baseline assessments, ecosystem mapping, and coalition-building. Additionally, French partners have engaged in fruitful discussions with ViTes, showcasing interest in their operational model following a recent site visit.
(Photo: La cathédrale Saint Cyr et Sainte Juliette de Nevers - Département de la Nièvre - Johan Boulet)
Circulus - part of Apeldoorn ecosystem (The Netherlands)
Focused on e-waste management around the Apeldoorn area (Aruba 16), partners are dedicated to optimising waste collection practices and spearheading a movement towards sustainable solutions. Additionally, they intend to extend their efforts to other locations with Weee-nl collecting hubs. Collaboration with stakeholders is essential in this endeavour to foster open cooperation to revolutionize the handling of electronic products.
The exchange of experiences with other project partners offers valuable insights into European e-waste management practices. With objectives aimed at streamlining communication channels and enhancing recycling processes, they recognise the significance of partnerships with entities like Foenix, Gemeente Apeldoorn, and Saxion. In Apeldoorn, Foenix has been entrusted with implementing innovative waste collection methods, marking a significant step towards achieving E6's objectives.
But E6's ambitions extend beyond Apeldoorn's borders. The initiative plans to leverage the network of Weee-nl collecting hubs within the Circulus region, engaging with administrators to foster a culture of collaboration. And lateron spread the information true out the ‘Cirkelwaarde region'.
City of The Hague (The Netherlands)
The Hague, a bustling metropolis with a population of over half a million, pulsates with diversity and dynamism. However, like any urban landscape, it grapples with disparities in income and access to resources across its neighbourhoods. Amidst this tapestry of urban life, a vibrant e-repair market thrives, offering a mosaic of services primarily focused on white goods and smartphone or tablet repairs.
Their canvas extends across the entirety of The Hague, encompassing approximately 100 square kilometres. Here, they have summoned both commercial enterprises and non-profit entities to collaborate on sculpting innovative solutions to nurture sustainable behaviour by democratizing access to repair services. Their objective transcends mere waste reduction; it's about igniting a cultural shift towards valuing craftsmanship and community resilience.
Although their exchange of insights with partners is nascent, seeds of collaboration have been sown. They have laid the groundwork by sharing our ecosystem mapping methodology with Nevers, a step towards fostering a network of knowledge-sharing.
Apeldoorn (The Netherlands)
The municipality of Apeldoorn, encompassing one city and eleven villages, seamlessly blends urban and rural environments. Apeldoorn’s progressive waste policy focuses on three primary goals: waste reduction, improved waste separation, and maintaining a clean environment. These goals emphasize preventing waste by rethinking purchases, refusing unnecessary items, sharing, and repairing products to extend their lifespan.
Waste collection is managed by Circulus (also participating in E6), a company owned by Apeldoorn and eight neighbouring municipalities. In addition, Foenix, a local circular craft centre, collaborates with Circulus for the intake, repair, and resale of second-hand goods. Together, these entities facilitate waste management across approximately 50 municipalities, allowing for scalable solutions.
The municipality of Apeldoorn will raise awareness about sustainable consumption and waste prevention; develop educational programmes to teach circular skills related to e-waste; improve the visibility and accessibility of re-use, repair, and intake locations. Circulus will enhance the intake and recycling processes for e-waste and participate in educational initiatives. Foenix will develop and test intake protocols for e-goods; expand repair services through their (permanent) Repair Cafe; improve the intake station experience; and contribute to educational programmes.
By integrating these efforts, Apeldoorn sets a benchmark for sustainable waste management, fostering a cleaner, more environmentally conscious community.