Award of 24-FW-003-CO-29 Reuse Retail Trends and Barriers in the Scottish EEE Sector

The Scottish Government estimates that approximately 1.6 - 2 million tonnes of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is disposed of every year in the UK.Electronics present a critical opportunity for scaling up reuse as part of a circular economy. While current efforts in Scotland largely centre around recycling, reuse remains underdeveloped despite being higher up the waste hierarchy. UK and EU-level ‘Right to Repair’ legislation could (if further developed) demand systemic change, but the reuse ecosystem is not yet fit for purpose.The aim of the project is to develop a comprehensive understanding of the current state and future potential of reuse in Scotland’s Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) sector. This includes examining consumer behaviour, identifying system barriers, and analysing successful reuse models that can be replicated. A key focus will be to understand the economic implications of reuse, such as cost savings for consumers, skills development, job creation, and opportunities for local businesses. The insights gained will inform policy development, business strategies, and targeted interventions to support the mainstreaming of reuse at scale, contributing to a more circular and resilient economy. This could include (but is not limited to) washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators and electronic displays (such as smart phones, computers, TVs, etc.). The final list is likely to be affected by the availability of data.Further information is provided in the Additional Documents that accompany this Quick Quote Notice.