On July 19, the Czech capital announced its plans to expand their RE-USE project. The project, which was established last year, consists of centres for the reuse of second- hand items, instead of sending them directly to landfills, in order to reduce waste.
Some of the items that can be given a “second life” at the RE-USE centres are furniture, dishes, toys, sports equipment, books, etc. that still have their utility value. The items are first photographed and offered to charities and non- profit organizations; if these are not interested in the items, they are then made available to the public for free through the RE-USE website.
There are currently three RE-USE points in the city where people can deposit their items, with plans to expand the project and host future swap events.
The RE-USE project is a great example of the principles of a circular economy, as it keeps products in use instead of sending them to landfills. Transitioning to a circular economy is one of the required steps to achieve Prague’s climate goals, which include cutting CO2 emissions by 45% by 2030.
Petr Hlubuček, Deputy Mayor and Councillor for the Environment said: “Up to 40% of the stored furniture in the collection yards can still be fully used. That is why we want to be able to store such furniture in RE-USE points in Prague and to be able to mediate its further use to the widest possible circle of users. It is not just about minimising waste. It is also about the good feeling that the thing we have given money for and enjoyed for years does not just end up somewhere in a landfill.
The example of the second life of furniture is a nice example of how the circular economy looks in practice. We want to give people the opportunity to get second-hand furniture and other household equipment today, or to get rid of it ecologically. We want to offer an alternative to the consumerist way of life to those who are interested.”
