Furniture Re-use Network urges disposal charge exemption

The Furniture Reuse Network (FRN) has called for charities to be exempt from local councils disposal charges on items they have taken from the household waste stream.

While charities were previously able to dispose of the non-reusable sofas free of charge, they now have to pay, with around 10% of sofas picked up by re-use charities, unfit to be reused for reasons such as not having flame-retardant labels.

The European Parliament is currently considering proposals from its environment committee for mandatory reuse targets of 5% by 2030.

If this is adopted, the Government may have a renewed interest in encouraging reuse from the municipal stream, and Craig Anderson, Furniture Re-use Network CEO told Materials Recycling World this will require a rethink in legislation.

He explained: “If they want to take more, they are going to have to reduce the financial burden they are placing on charities, which are reducing the waste stream all the time.

“That’s a big issue and campaign that we are looking at. If they want us to do more, they are going to have to put less financial restrictions on our sector.

“The Government has been after our stats for a long time, so this gives them the metric and the opportunity to do so. Perhaps we will hear a bit more from DEFRA again.”

Read the full piece on the MRW website.

Media Contact:

Claire Charras

Business Support Manager

claire.charras@reuse-network.org.uk

0117 954 3578

0772 6358 243

Notes to the editors:

• The Furniture Re-use Network (FRN) is the national representative for around 200 reuse charities in the UK.
• Craig Anderson, Furniture Re-use Network CEO is available for interview.
• For the Furniture Re-use Network (FRN) it is re-use that provides an answer to the UK’s serious waste problem – turning it into a solution for the alleviation of poverty instead. By shifting behavioural attitudes of the public and corporations and using innovative schemes such as retail take-back scheme and supporting product stewardship, the FRN is a game-changer in putting the circular economy into motion.