New guidance published to boost electricals repair and reuse

Reuse Network today published up-to-date comprehensive official guidance on Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) repair and reuse. The guidance, named ‘Fit for Reuse’, will support reuse operators to meet required standards to run compliantly. In doing so, the guidance will help tackle the growing mountain of old or unused electricals being recycled or disposed of and, through Reuse Network, provide more high-quality, safe, repaired electrical goods to people that need them. 

Comprehensive support for repairers of EEE 

Aided by the involvement of over 30 partners, including Trading Standards, Electrical Safety First, Currys, Charity Fleetcare, Arena Training and Reuse Network members, Fit for Reuse is a free, accessible, resource aimed specifically at technicians and managers of reuse operations. 

Filled with photos, helpful tips, and revamped check sheets, this guidance has been written by the sector for the sector. The easily downloadable and shareable information represents a significant step forward in professionalising the sector, cementing best practices, and placing product safety at the heart of reuse and repair activity. 

Reuse organisations can be a lifeline for people in crisis by providing much needed essential furniture and electrical goods. The latest Social Impact Report from Reuse Network shows that in 2021 83% of its charity members reused electrical items. And as the cost-of-living crisis worsens, Reuse Network charity members are seeing a growing need for second-hand electrical items. Martin Macleod, CEO of Alness-based charity, and Reuse Network member, ILM Highland says “The introduction of the Fit for Reuse guidance will help ILM Highland to ensure that any repairs carried out by our Domestic Engineers are carried out to the recent industry standards. 

“This in turn will give families on low incomes the confidence that the refurbished electrical items provided by ILM Highland will be repaired in a safe and proper manner. The more electrical items that can be repaired the less that will end up as waste, this helping with carbon savings and improving the environment.” 

Moving towards a circular economy for EEE 

Fit for Reuse is one of eight projects which received support from the Ecosurety Exploration Fund. The Fund invested £1 million into projects that could reduce the environmental impact of packaging, batteries or EEE through innovation or research in the UK. 

Commenting on the project, Will Ghali, CEO of Ecosurety, said: “We are pleased to support and witness the results of this important project which offers a real solution to a problem that has lingered for many years. 

“Fit for Reuse will alleviate a lot of the frustration and confusion that might exist because of the lack of updated guidance to help reuse operators to run optimally. And it’s an assurance to producers that with the latest guidance now being available, their products can be reused and repaired safely. 

“This is a positive step forward to facilitate repair and reuse and an acceleration towards a circular economy for electric and electronic equipment.” 

Craig Anderson, Reuse Network CEO says: “With Fit for Reuse, we have developed the most comprehensive and up-to-date guidance to standards for electrical equipment reuse which will be used nation-wide to standardise electrical reuse across the board. 

“We are very excited to have been awarded funding from Ecosurety to update our Fit for Reuse guidance. This is a much-needed piece of work for the reuse sector, and we would like to thank Ecosurety once again for selecting our project.”