Introduction

Materials thrown away, not kept or not seen as useful are referred to as “waste“. It is generated by private households, companies, and bigger entities such as communities and states. The definition of waste varies among different cultures. In their legislation states often define what they understand by waste, how it is generated, managed and treated. Put simply, what is or what is not considered as waste depends on our attitudes, customs, and beliefs. In the past, people might have used what we now treat as waste and in the future we might find it useful or necessary to rethink what waste is. In some cases, we can also look into other countries and cultures to start rethinking about waste.

In this case, the concept of circular economy can be helpful. Circular economy aims at maintaining products, materials, and resources in the product cycle by keeping and returning them in full or by their individual elements in process, for example. That way it works towards minimising waste and the exploitation of new raw materials today and in the future. It is a big economic factor that is inter alia bringing business opportunities to start-uppers.

No special requirements are needed for this module. It provides the learners with the introductory information about the concept of waste reuse and circular economy, legal framework developed by the EU on this topic, and examples of best practice. This module will show you how to:

• rethink waste as a resource
• find example practices in which waste is used as a resource
• learn how to re-use waste yourself.