Turning recycling centres into resource centres: A position paper from the Mouvement Ecologique
In a recent position paper, the Mouvement Ecologique put forward concrete proposals for implementing a central provision of the new legislation on waste. This is the provision that recycling centres should be transformed into resource centres. These centres play a central role, as they are to be the pivot of a new waste management policy: the main objective is to reuse rather than simply “recycle”!
The government is currently drafting a Grand Ducal regulation that will set out the rules for these resource centres.
In the opinion of the Mouvement Ecologique, however, this draft has some major shortcomings. For example, there is still no overall strategy to regulate the essential aspects. For example, how the various players (waste syndicates, local authorities, social economy) should work together, what basic criteria the centres should meet, whether regional priorities should be set (for example, one centre investing more in furniture recycling, another in clothing, etc.) so that different centres can offer different services, etc.
In addition, the Mouvement Ecologique is calling for specific framework requirements for all resource centres in order to ensure a nationwide quality of service. These framework requirements should promote repair, reuse and sharing and include clear guidelines on organisation, awareness-raising and monitoring. There are opportunities to create synergies with actors in the social and solidarity economy by setting up collection points for reusable items in the centres and processing them further by local initiatives. It is also important that employees of the centres are trained accordingly and that educational opportunities are provided for the public.
Additional state funding should be provided for measures that go beyond the minimum criteria, such as the establishment of sharing facilities or local neighbourhood antennas where different types of fractions can be collected. Regional cooperation between the centres should also be promoted.
Close cooperation between all stakeholders involved is crucial for the successful implementation of the new waste management policy and the creation of sustainable resource centres.
The paper has been sent to all the communes. It would be good if many members of local councils, as well as people active in environmental committees, etc., got involved in the project.
12.02.2024