News
RE-Evaluate Project boosts reuse of EEE.
The RE-Evaluate Project has been awarded funding over the next three years, by the Irish Government’s Science, Technology, Research and Innovation (STRIVE) Programme .The STRIVE Programme aims to protect and improve the natural environment, by addressing key environmental management issues and by the provision of world-class scientific knowledge through a programme of research, developed, supported and co-ordinated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The RE-Evaluate Partnership is led by the University of Limerick and includes REHAB Enterprises and Clondalkin Community Recycling Initiative. A comprehensive R&D Programme which will be developed over a 36 month period beginning from the end of 2008. This Work Programme includes evaluating existing initiatives for electric and electronic equipment (EEE) reuse in the South Dublin region and identifying best practise in reuse from Europe and elsewhere. On the basis of a study of existing practise and international Best Practise, RE-Evaluate will make and pilot recommendations for the improvement of Reuse, in line with the European Commission proposed Review of the WEEE Directive, which aims to raise the level of reuse of EEE to 5% of all waste collected.
The Project aims to promote sound management of WEEE stream, by researching the option of reuse, both as whole appliances, parts and components. This should have multiple benefits, such as reduction of hazardous waste exports to less developed countries, the reduction of energy use and CO2 emissions, the encouraging of enterprises, particularly social enterprises carrying out this activity, thus helping create jobs and training opportunities, especially for persons at risk of social exclusion, as well as environmental benefits and the improvement of the quality of life for individuals and households with lower incomes, by helping provide access to good quality second hand EEE (including IT) at affordable prices. In doing so to help communities in Europe and in developing countries “bridge the Digital Divide”. José Ospina is Project Manager of the RE-Evaluate Project.