Developing Local Reuse Schemes and Ensuring Complementarity with Recycling

Reuse now needs to be supported by reliable and sustainable business models established at local level. The development of infrastructure dedicated to reuse must necessarily be accompanied by an appropriate local system for the collection, sorting and preparation for reuse (washing, refurbishment, repair, etc.), following the same industrial approach as the system already in place for recycling. Moreover, the two activities must coexist, as each can benefit from the other’s infrastructure and material flows, since materials and products currently entering reuse streams will ultimately become future recycling feedstock.

Waste collection, sorting and recycling facilities are located as close as possible to consumption and drop-off points, i.e. close to citizens and businesses, in accordance with the proximity principle. These facilities are already engaged in the industrialisation of their processes and can therefore rapidly adapt to also support the development of reuse activities. At the same time, reuse operators can rely on the existing collection and sorting systems operated by waste management companies in order to pool and optimise their infrastructure.

Complementarity Between Reuse and Recycling as a Means of Optimising Investment

As regulatory targets are being strengthened for reuse just as they are for recycling, it is important to ensure consistency in industrial investment between reuse and recycling, as well as complementarity between the two activities.

First, regarding the recyclability of reused products: any reusable solution introduced onto the market must also be designed to be recyclable. As mentioned above, today’s reuse streams will become tomorrow’s recycling streams.

With regard to infrastructure compatibility, reused products must be compatible with the processes deployed in recycling value chains. In other words, reusable products reaching the end of their useful life must be capable of being recycled together with conventional recycling streams, since it does not appear economically viable or acceptable to develop dedicated sorting systems and regeneration facilities specifically for end-of-life reusable products. Reuse processes must therefore be consistent with investments already made, or currently being made, in recycling facilities.

Conversely, pooling material flows from the outset can help facilitate this complementarity. For example, a glass packaging washing operator could work with a glass collector and recycler by supplying it with packaging that cannot be reused, or packaging that has already completed all of its reuse cycles and is ready to be recycled.

Establishing Local Reuse Schemes Alongside Recycling Systems

Any widespread deployment of reusable solutions must necessarily be accompanied by a collection system designed to preserve products for reuse, as well as local sorting and washing facilities.

Today, collection systems for recycling provide voluntary drop-off points close to places of consumption, whether at home or in public spaces. The equipment and products collected are then sorted and recycled according to a proximity principle, generally within a maximum distance of 200 km from collection points. Reuse facilities should likewise be located in major population areas, close to consumers, partly in order to make sorting and the consumer’s journey to reuse collection points easier.

For packaging in particular, reuse is currently hindered by the limited number of industrial washing facilities available nationwide. This is the case, for example, for glass: today, France has only around three to six large-scale, robust glass-washing facilities, despite significant investment. As a result, the average distance between collection points and washing centres is approximately 500 km, which is considerable. Further development is expected in this area in order to achieve better geographical coverage across the country. Conversely, the refurbishment of WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment), both household and professional, benefits from collection points and treatment centres that are relatively well distributed across the country.

This highlights the importance of developing local reuse schemes integrated into the Regional Waste Prevention and Management Plans managed by France’s Regional authorities, as already exists for recycling. This would help reduce the carbon footprint associated with transport, ensure services remain close to citizens—who, after all, pay an eco-contribution when purchasing these goods and equipment—and ensure consistency with, and compliance with, the proximity requirements already applicable to recycling.

Promoting the Local Dimension and Complementarity of Recycling and Reuse

The development of local and complementary reuse and recycling schemes will require government support, particularly to protect industrial jobs in the circular economy, which should by nature remain local and non-relocatable.

In this regard, FEDERREC has created an origin label awarded to companies whose reuse and recycling operations are carried out within France, under conditions guaranteeing traceability, regulatory compliance, and adherence to social and environmental standards. This label serves as a tool for developing the sector and supporting companies by helping them expand their services in France.

Supporting the circular economy in France means contributing to the reduction of transport-related impacts, combating the relocation of economic activity abroad, reindustrialising the country and thereby strengthening national sovereignty. Local authorities and public bodies also have a role to play by incorporating reuse into their procurement policies.