Ecosystems for Extended-lifetime of End-of-Use Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B North West Europe

Date of latest update: 2025-05-12

Description

Description (EN):

Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) is still growing fast in North-West Europe (NWE), mainly because life-cycles become shorter. A systemic change is needed. New EU regulations drive the transition, but the biggest challenge is their implementation: putting reuse, refurbishment and repair (RRR) first in the order of options offered to citizens. Regions and cities are close to daily practices in the use phase of EEE and promote new circular experiments. The common challenge is to implement the new European norms in the specific conditions of regions across NWE which have different capacities. In this project we pilot RRR ecosystems in 6 regions across NWE, with the objective to increase the regions’ capacities to manage EEE reuse, repair and refurbishment. E6 focuses on the (physical and digital) infrastructure to provide low-threshold support for citizens and to facilitate a new economy for RRR. The project develops a joint strategy and action plan to create a multi-component service hub with 6 types of tools (awareness creation, decision support, flow management, business models, data management, integration), with support of knowledge partners (WP1). Six regional pilot ecosystems will test the integrated approach with key stakeholders (from re-use shops to waste management parks and new repair and refurbish business), but foremost citizens (WP2). The pilot experience will be up-scaled at NWE with mutual learning and policy action to promote a Place-Based Circular Model (PBCM) for RRR (WP3). The project will implement a joint training scheme on learning with communities of practice, across these ecosystems and tools. Transnational collaboration is needed to accelerate and customise a joint model for different types of regions across NWE. The ecosystem approach connects top-down EU directives, with bottom-up (local) capacity building, in order to support a product journey for End-of-Use EEE from a user perspective: ‘where can I go with my devices’.

Actual Achievements (EN):

In the first period of the E6 project, significant progress has been made in establishing the project's governance structure, setting up communication channels, and laying the groundwork for the development of regional ecosystems focused on repair, reuse, and recycling (RRR) of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). #Project Governance and Communication Lead projectpartner Saxion (LP1) effectuated a project governance structure with clear roles and task division, including a steering committee and project management team (PMT). The PMT, consisting of the lead partner, work package leaders (Thomas More –PP12, Apeldoorn-PP2 and ERNACT-PP4) and communication manager (ERNACT). PMT meets biweekly to discuss tasks, deliverables, risks and strategy. Saxion and Maakbaar Leuven (PP8) organized the project kick-off meeting in Leuven on 3 and 4 April 2024, hosted by the Leuven ecosystem partners. Objective of the meeting was to introduce the project team, outline objectives and establish a shared understanding. ERNACT, as communication lead, prepared the communication plan, project branding, project website and digital communication channels. # Methodology and Strategy Development (WP1) ITB (PP5) is developing a common methodology (D1.1.1) for establishing the RRR pilot ecosystems as working cooperations using a 4-step method. This defines the logic of how the ecosystems will operate while allowing regional flexibility. Tools like an online mind map and pilot action plan were created to support this. The development of a strategy paper outlining on how to run an ecosystem has started. IFH (PP9) is responsible for KPI development to evaluate and compare ecosystems (D1.1.3) and baseline/final monitoring (D2.7.3/4). They conducted a literature review, coordinated with partners like ITB on data needs, and considered customer perceptions. # Key Deliverables All key deliverables for this period have been realized through following cooperations: 1. D1.2.1 Needs analysis: Saxion, Thomas More, Foenix (PP14), and Apeldoorn collaborated to identify customer needs and guide the development of the E6 service hub. 2. D1.2.2 List of baseline use cases: Use cases were developed by Saxion, Thomas More, Foenix, and Apeldoorn to inform the design of the E6 service hub. 3. D1.2.3 Inventory and scorecard: Saxion and Thomas More created an inventory and scorecard for the multi-component service hub. 4. D2.2.1 Baseline report: The Hague (PP6) mapped the existing local e-repair sector to establish a baseline for the project. 5. D2.5.1 RRR Baseline report: Nievre Numerique (PP3) and Nevers Agglomeration (PP7) worked on identifying and mapping RRR stakeholders and product/waste streams of EEE in their area. 6. D2.5.4 EEE collection point network: Nievre Numerique and Nevers Agglomeration collaborated to create a local cartography for EEE waste collection and integrate re-use solutions into existing recycling activities. #Ecosystem Establishment and Expansion (WP2) The project partners focused on mapping and engaging stakeholders in their local ecosystems: - Apeldoorn (municipality Apeldoorn, Circulus (PP11), Foenix) mapped the local e-repair sector, formed a stakeholder group, and developed a local customer journey. - The Hague (PP6) mapped existing repair Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), knowledge partners, platforms and authorities to form their stakeholder group. - Nievre Numerique and Nevers collected data on local RRR actions, stakeholders and cooperation. A stakeholder meeting identified needs around service design, communication, user journeys and logistics. - Aachen is establishing a network to integrate repair cafes and avoid overlap as they plan a "Circular Tech Store". - Leuven (Maakbaar Leuven, ViTeS-PP18) is continuing repair methodology work from SHAREPAIR and experimenting with online diagnosis of device repairability as a use case. - Galway (Comhairle-PP17) is adapting learnings from partner site visits and workshops to develop their ecosystem. A framework was drafted based on ViTes' methodology. The ecosystems started meeting regularly to exchange information and provide mutual support as they expand. # Policy Influencing and Awareness (WP3) Repair & Share (PP15) started policy monitoring and influencing work under WP3, focusing initially on EU level developments, as well as barriers and opportunities in Belgium. # Conclusion During the initial phase, the E6 project has established a solid foundation in terms of governance, communication and methodology. Significant progress has been made in analysing the needs of the ecosystems, defining the service hub and developing stronger local ecosystems through stakeholder engagement. This collaboration has facilitated valuable knowledge exchange and created an adaptable framework resulting in the completion of the first key deliverables. The E6 consortium has moved forward by selecting tools and methods for effective RRR solutions, developing the digital service hub structure (WP1 partners), refining the ecosystem methodology (WP1&2), setting up and aligning ecosystem pilots plans (WP2 partners), and participating in live and online exchanges which supported the development of the first communities of practice (COPs) and trainings within the joint training schemes that supported stakeholder discussions, pilot planning and end results (WP3 partners) within the project. WP1 # Thomas More (TM-PP12) and Saxion (LP1) finalized the listings of existing tools and decision-making tools. The selection will benefit the digital service hub structure. In addition to this list the service hub architecture, data modeling, and end-user segmentation (Maakbaar Leuven/MAL-PP8 with Apeldoorn-PP2 and TM (D.1.4.1)) were developed in several COPs with Saxion and VITO. VITO (PP16) provided technical details on potential service hub tools. They contributed to identifying and assessing relevant software solutions. The gathered information on tools, use cases, end-users and requirements was used to build a joint action plan on the service hub (A1.2) which sets a clear path for service hub development and roles and tasks for the E6 partners working on the service hub. #ITB (PP5) refined the common methodology (D.1.1.1) for establishing functional ecosystems, supported by an online mind map to document challenges and solutions. ITB and IFH (PP9) contributed to strategies for “How to Run an Ecosystem” (D.1.1.2, D.1.1.3) and these documents supported the content development of the pilot action plans for ecosystem partners. WP2 #Saxion with Apeldoorn developed with the input from ITB and IFH a pilot plan format that was used by all ecosystems, and was beneficial to comparison and alignment of the ecosystem pilot plans. The ecosystem partners discussed the content of their pilot plans within their ecosystem and provided peer reviews for another ecosystem, for example Apeldoorn, Circulus (PP11) and Foenix (PP14) delivered their ecosystem pilot plan in cooperation and gained peer reviews from MAL (PP8) and VITES (PP18). #Local stakeholders meetings were set up to provide content for the pilot plans. For example Nievre Numerique (NN-PP3) with Nevers Agglomeration (PP7) organized a webinar on local governance (D2.5.7). The Hague (PP6) continued held through stakeholder meetings to refine bottom-up solutions. Aachen (PP13) with input from ASB (PP19) started with extensive networking and local stakeholder alignment, which provided logistics and infrastructure insights for Aachen’s ecosystem and content for the pilot plan. WP3 #Joint training (JTS): MAL co-organized a workshop and learning visit to Apeldoorn (10/11/2024) to exchange strategies for circular centers and citizen awareness. Results aided both in their pilot plan development. Circulus organized internal kickoff meetings (20/08, 2/09, 7/10 2024) to align projects and their policies. They collaborated with Stichting Open (27/08, 04/11/2024) for WEEE benchmarks and shared knowledge with other municipalities. UnaG (PP10) developed training programs and a barcode-based tracking system for product traceability. Vites focused on EEE intake registration, transport optimization, triage tools, and training initiatives for repair staff. They tested a draft triage tool at a donation point in Leuven and strengthened repair processes toward “repair as a service”. UnaG with input from Comhairle (PP17) launched a pilot service hub for EEE intake, repair, and refurbishment. Foenix supported partners Apeldoorn and Circulus in reuse operations and e-waste collections, sharing knowledge about second-hand store engagement. #Policy: Repair & Share (PP15-R&S) documented structural barriers and opportunities for RRR ecosystems. They engaged with policymakers and stakeholders to advocate for repair-friendly legislation. #Outreach: For the communication on the project Ernact (PP4) maintained regular communication channels such as the website, newsletters and social media channels. Together with the partners, Saxion, UnaG, Ernact (PP4) and Comhairle, a project live meeting was organized in Galway (1–3 October 2024) with focus on ecosystem and pilot plan development (by TM and Saxion)and to provide input on tools (by TM) and policy monitoring (by R&S). Project partners also provided peer reviews to progress UnaG and Comhairle on how to set up a circular ecosystem. Saxion led overall project management with support from Apeldoorn, TM and Ernact, ensuring alignment on deliverables, coordinating guidance activities, and organizing project steering committees (09/07, 03/10, 10/12/2024). Topics of steering committee were project strategy discussions, improved risk management, and facilitated the addition of a new project partner.

Project outputs: Joint strategy and action plans towards a ‘Place-based Circular Model’ for making RRR the first solution to End-of-Use EEE(EN)
Ecosystem pilots to experiment with solutions of a 'Place-Based-Circular Model'(EN)
Tested and validated solutions towards a 'Place-Based-Circular Model'(EN)
Capacity building(EN)
Website: http://e6.nweurope.eu

Thematic information

Waste and pollution

Priority: (VI-B_NWE_3) Transition towards a place-based circular economy

Priority specific objective: RSO2.6. Promoting the transition to a circular and resource efficient economy

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO2 A greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk prevention and management, and sustainable urban mobility

Type of intervention: 069 Commercial, industrial waste management: prevention, minimisation, sorting, reuse, recycling measures

Partners (20)

Lead Partner: Hogeschool Saxion

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 970382278

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL008773609 B01

Department: Lectoraat Regio-ontwikkeling (reserach department for Region-development)

Address: M.H. Tromplaan , 7500 KB Enschede, Netherlands

Department address: M.H. Tromplaan , 7000 Enschede, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.saxion.edu

Total budget: EUR 1 217 025.38

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 730 215.22

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 486 810.16

DAVI LES HUMANISEURS

Name: DAVI LES HUMANISEURS

Department: Office of Varennes-Vauzelles

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 910187182

Partner’s ID if not PIC: FR84433940194 | SIRET: 433 940 194 00023

Address: Rue Jean Mermoz, 58640 Varennes-Vauzelles, France

Department address: Rue Jean Mermoz, 58640 Varennes-Vauzelles, France

Legal status: private

Organisation type: SME

Website: https://davi.ai/

Total budget: EUR 539 700.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 323 820.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 215 880.00

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER Article 20

Aachener Stadtbetrieb

Name: Aachener Stadtbetrieb

Department: Waste management and city cleaning

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 878919232

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE 121689815

Address: Madrider Ring , 52078 Aachen, Germany

Department address: Madrider Ring , 52078 Aachen, Germany

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Infrastructure and (public) service provider

Website: https://www.aachen.de/de/stadt_buerger/aachener_stadtbetrieb/index.html

Total budget: EUR 190 291.10

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 114 174.66

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 76 116.44

Vzw ViTeS

Name: Vzw ViTeS

Department: N/A

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 879318678

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE 0431 067 802

Address: IJzerenmolenstraat, 3001 Leuven, Belgium

Department address: IJzerenmolenstraat, 3001 Leuven, Belgium

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Infrastructure and (public) service provider

Website: http://www.vites.be

Total budget: EUR 222 803.44

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 133 682.06

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 89 121.38

Comhairle Ceantar na nOileán CTR

Name: Comhairle Ceantar na nOileán CTR

Department: N/A

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 878764905

Partner’s ID if not PIC: Tax Ref Number: 6356751M (not registered for VAT) | Company Registration Number: 336751 | Company Registration Number (EN)

Address: Tír an Fhia,, H91 DWV1 Galway, Ireland

Department address: Tír an Fhia,, H91 DWV1 Galway, Ireland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: https://www.cnnoilean.ie/

Total budget: EUR 212 322.67

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 127 393.60

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 84 929.07

Vlaams instituut voor technologisch onderzoek

Name: Vlaams instituut voor technologisch onderzoek

Department: N/A

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999645238

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE 0244.195.916

Address: Boeretang, 2400 Mol, Belgium

Department address: Boeretang, 2400 Mol, Belgium

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://vito.be/nl

Total budget: EUR 182 309.40

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 109 385.64

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 72 923.76

Repair&Share vzw

Name: Repair&Share vzw

Department: N/A

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 879433429

Partner’s ID if not PIC: Company registration number: 0688850349 (not VAT) | Company registration number: 0688850349

Address: Edinburgstraat, 1050 Brussels, Belgium

Department address: Edinburgstraat, 1050 Brussels, Belgium

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: http://www.repairshare.be

Total budget: EUR 296 940.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 178 164.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 118 776.00

Foenix Kringloop en Reïntegratie

Name: Foenix Kringloop en Reïntegratie

Department: N/A

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 878772277

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL009140050B01 | 41040494 | Dutch Chamber of Commerce registration number (EN)

Address: Molenmakershoek , 7328 JK Apeldoorn, Netherlands

Department address: Molenmakershoek , 7328 JK Apeldoorn, Netherlands

Legal status: private

Organisation type: SME

Website: http://www.foenix.nl

Total budget: EUR 212 486.40

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 127 491.84

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 84 994.56

Stadt Aachen

Name: Stadt Aachen

Department: Fachbereich für Wirtschaft, Wissenschaft, Digitalisierung & Europa / Department Economy, Science, Digitization and Europe

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 967476449

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE 121689815

Address: Johannes-Paul-II.-Str., 52058 Aachen, Germany

Department address: Johannes-Paul-II.-Str., 52058 Aachen, Germany

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: https://www.aachen.de/

Total budget: EUR 308 735.63

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 185 241.37

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 123 494.26

Thomas More Mechelen – Antwerpen vzw

Name: Thomas More Mechelen – Antwerpen vzw

Department: Ontwerp en Technologie (Design and Technology)

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 991017767

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE 0455411733

Address: Zandpoortvest, 2800 Mechelen, Belgium

Department address: Jan Pieter de Nayerlaan, 2860 Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.thomasmore.be

Total budget: EUR 728 377.18

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 437 026.30

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 291 350.88

Circulus

Name: Circulus

Department: Waste collection

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 878770046

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL 85 46 40 502 B 01

Address: Aruba, 7332 BK Apeldoorn, Netherlands

Department address: Aruba, 7332 BK Apeldoorn, Netherlands

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Infrastructure and (public) service provider

Website: http://www.circulus.nl

Total budget: EUR 157 304.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 94 382.40

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 62 921.60

Údarás na Gaeltachta

Name: Údarás na Gaeltachta

Department: Research and Sectoral Development

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 905308179

Partner’s ID if not PIC: IE0539918O

Address: Na Forbacha Co. na Gaillimhe, 7Q2X+CV Furbogh County Galway, Ireland

Department address: Na Forbacha Co. na Gaillimhe, 7Q2X+CV Furbogh County Galway, Ireland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: https://udaras.ie/en/

Total budget: EUR 462 648.39

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 277 589.03

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 185 059.36

Volkswirtschaftliches Institut für Mittelstand und Handwerk Universität Göttingen eV

Name: Volkswirtschaftliches Institut für Mittelstand und Handwerk Universität Göttingen eV

Department: N/A

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 878770434

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE 177002983

Address: Heinrich-Düker-Weg , 37073 Göttingen, Germany

Department address: Heinrich-Düker-Weg , 37073 Göttingen, Germany

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://ifh.wiwi.uni-goettingen.de

Total budget: EUR 617 963.17

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 370 777.90

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 247 185.27

Maakbaar Leuven vzw

Name: Maakbaar Leuven vzw

Department: N/A

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 878775381

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE0731 627 844 (no VAT number) | BE0731 627 844 | Enterprise number (EN)

Address: Paul van Ostaijenlaan, 3001 Leuven, Belgium

Department address: Paul van Ostaijenlaan, 3001 Leuven, Belgium

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: http://www.maakbaarleuven.be

Total budget: EUR 377 914.32

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 226 748.59

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 151 165.73

Nevers Agglomération

Name: Nevers Agglomération

Department: Intercommunal Cooperation

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 928093576

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SIRET nr 24580440600107 (not VAT) | SIRET nr is 24580440600107

Address: Route de Marzy, 58027 Nevers, France

Department address: Route de Marzy, 58027 Nevers, France

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: https://www.agglo-nevers.net/

Total budget: EUR 407 551.20

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 244 530.72

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 163 020.48

Gemeente Den Haag

Name: Gemeente Den Haag

Department: Stadsbeheer

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 957388352

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL0023.08.836.B.01

Address: Spui, 2511 BT Den Haag, Netherlands

Department address: Spui, 2511 BT Den Haag, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.denhaag.nl

Total budget: EUR 709 830.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 425 898.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 283 932.00

Contractors:

Name: Back office Management
VAT registration or tax identification number: NL001624132B09
Name: GAD
VAT registration or tax identification number: NL0023.08.836.B.01

Institut für Betriebsführung im deutschen Handwerksinstitut e.V.

Name: Institut für Betriebsführung im deutschen Handwerksinstitut e.V.

Department: n.a.

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 878773247

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE202619597

Address: Unterweingartenfeld , 76135 Karlsruhe, Germany

Department address: Unterweingartenfeld , 76135 Karlsruhe, Germany

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.itb.de

Total budget: EUR 60 478.24

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 36 286.94

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 24 191.30

European Regions Network for the Application of Communications Technology

Name: European Regions Network for the Application of Communications Technology

Department: n.a.

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 964478470

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 6544273A

Address: CoLab, ATU Donegal Letterkenny Campus, Port Road, F92 HTW7 Letterkenny, Ireland

Department address: CoLab, ATU Donegal Letterkenny Campus, Port Road, F92 HTW7 Letterkenny, Ireland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: International organisation, EEIG

Website: http://www.ernact.eu

Total budget: EUR 351 882.86

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 211 129.71

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 140 753.15

Syndicat Mixte Ouvert Nièvre numérique

Name: Syndicat Mixte Ouvert Nièvre numérique

Department: Digital Nièvre Joint Authority

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 914438983

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SIRET 20000240000014 (no VAT no) | SIRET 20000240000014 | SIRET (EN)

Address: Avenue Marceau, 58000 Nevers, France

Department address: Avenue Marceau, 58000 Nevers, France

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: http://www.nievrenumerique.com

Total budget: EUR 466 741.80

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 280 045.08

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 186 696.72

Gemeente Apeldoorn

Name: Gemeente Apeldoorn

Department: Department of Environmental Policy

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 925701750

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL001299918B01

Address: Marktplein, 7311 LG Apeldoorn, Netherlands

Department address: Marktplein, 7311 LG Apeldoorn, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.apeldoorn.nl

Total budget: EUR 430 731.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 258 438.60

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 172 292.40

Partners map

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Operation of strategic importance (OSI) or above EUR 5 million

Project name (EN): Ecosystems for Extended-lifetime of End-of-Use Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Project acronym: E6

Project ID: NWE0200220

Project start date: 2024-01-01

Project end date: 2027-06-30

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

The ShaRepair project addresses the increasing amount of WEEE. WEEE is one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the EU, growing at 3-5% a year. Consumption of EEE, and therefore production of WEEE, is very high throughout the NWE region (Eurostat 2016, EEE products put on the market). At the same time, NWE is home to a growing citizen repair movement (10,000+ volunteers), attempting to fight back against this upsurge in waste. However, their impact remains small, even though consumers indicate a high willingness to repair. Hence, there is a large gap between intent and actual behaviour, due to a lack of convenient and accessible repair solutions. The project aims to decrease WEEE from consumer products by scaling up citizen repair initiatives through the use of digital tools: digital tools that stimulate and facilitate citizen repair by collecting repair solutions and making them easily accessible to citizens (Smart&Circular Cities). The tools will target both consumers at home (through city and consumer organisation hubs) and more skilled repairers in repair cafés. They will also map and guide citizens towards high-quality professional repair services, and assemble, with the help of designers, a database of 3D-printing designs (open-source) for printing replacement parts. The objective is to decrease WEEE by 6.27 T per year in pilot repair cafés and by 110 T per year in the pilot cities. The project’s main output will be an integrated approach to supporting citizen repair: a digital infrastructure that supports self-repair, repairing together (in repair cafés or repair centres), and repairing with professional support. To sustain this infrastructure beyond the project lifetime, business and policy models will be developed with a view to setting up a European Open Repair Data Platform. (EN) |
E6 aims at developing digital tools, which are the basis of capacity building for a strong local circular layer for RRR. There is a strong connection between ShaRepair and E6 because of the shared objective to decrease the waste stream of EEE. ShaRepair aimed at scaling up
citizen repair initiatives through the use of digital tools. Those tools support citizens to do more repair themselves, together, or with the help of professionals that generated knowledge and tools
to involve citizens. E6 aims at bending the waste stream in local ecosystem towards longer lifetimes for EEE through an integrated approach for prioritising repair, re-use and refurbishment over recycling in End-of-Life situations of EEE. Therefore E6 is developing a common methodology for setting-up the ecosystem: starting with the mapping of the (actors) in the ecosystem, mapping the present reatment of EEE
flows and envisaging the road towards
circularisation (road mapping), and
monitoring the implementation. E6 will develop more digital tools that support specific functions of the ecosystem in WP 1. This is a toolbox for a hub that acts as an accelerator. We will build on those existing digital tools and methodologies developed in ShaRepair. Four partners of the Sharepair project participate in E6. (EN), E-NOVATION HUB is a model for regional collaboration for WEEE management and repair. This hub is the center of expertise on the valorisation of electronics in the Cleantech region, which includes the city of Apeldoorn. A number of factors limit the opportunities for unlocking this (residual) value and reducing the growing WEEE stream. The objective of this project is to select 10% (500 tons) of WEEE offered for life extension of the respective product or component and thus avoid unnecessary recycling. The focus is on recovery of end-of-life electronics with the ambition to repair more and boost the "Right to Repair" movement. However, this requires better decision support information and instruction at the process steps of collection and repair. Therefore, the project investigates four sequential steps in the process for 4 groups of products (washing machines and refrigerators, consumer electronics, central heating boilers and electric motors): 1) Classification (how to assess what to do with the appliance); 2) work instructions (what should be done), 3) testing (how do we determine if the device or component is then functioning properly), and finally 4) matchmaking (where and how sales take place). The result of this project is an open database including information on qualification of products, materials or parts. Moreover, the database includes matchmaking where supply and demand come together. The open database for WEEE makes the circular chain for e-products transparent and bridges the 'gap' between the collected e-products and promising regional markets. (EN) | There is a strong connection between E-NOVATION HUB and E6 because of the shared objective to decrease the waste stream of ewate. The link between E-NOVATION HUB and E6 is twofold.
On the one hand E6 will build on the knowledge and expertise developed in E-NOVATION HUB and on the other hand Apeldoorn will be a pilot ecosystem in E6.
1) The knowledge useful for E6 from E-NOVATION HUB is the database development including information on qualification of products, materials or parts. This links to the plans of WP 1 on building a tool, namely a multi-component service hub to support process management and improve decisions within an ecosystem.
2) The pilot ecosystem Apeldoorn planned in WP2 of E6 can build on the existing network of local stakeholders which are connected and work together in the E-NOVATION HUB. This has advantages because mapping the stakeholders of the pilot ecosystem is more efficient and the existing links facilitate the development of the working cooperations in the Communities of Practice. (EN), The Resourceful Cities project is an action planning network funded by the Urbact programme and Interreg. This project seeks to develop the next generation of urban resource centres, so they can serve as catalysts of the local circular economy, by adopting a participative and integrated approach. The resource centres strive to promote the positive economic, environmental and social impacts, notably for the circular economy. Thus, the action planning network facilitates waste prevention, reuse, repair and recycling. The centres also work as connection points for citizens, new businesses, researchers and the public sector to co-create new ways to close resource loops at the local level. By bringing together interested actors to work alongside, the goal is to promote the change of values and mindset. A key challenge is the development of viable business models that foster resource efficiency, and closing local and regional loops, thus decoupling economic growth and the use of natural resources. This includes identifying means of scaling up small scale operations to become self-sustaining resource efficient enterprises with a positive local social, economic, and environmental impact. Being the judicial entity for waste collection, part of this challenge for the municipality is to find new ways of collecting, sorting, and processing waste streams as good quality secondary resource materials. Moreover, in the ecosystem The Hague a new local waste to resource policy framework was adopted aimed at waste prevention and promoting resource efficiency and circular economy through valorization of municipal waste streams and promoting upcycling, repair, and reuse. (EN) | The Resourceful Cities project and the E6 project have the shared objective of waste prevention through reuse, repair and recycling. Resourceful Cities has a focus on achieving a circular local and regional waste loop of general waste and E6 aims at the same with a focus on EEE waste. E6 can build on knowledge and an existing ecosystem (The Hague) that has been gained in Resourceful Cities project. Concretely, E6 can build on the knowledge of Resourceful Cities on developing spaces for circular co-creation & action, because E6 proposes a place-based approach with solutions being tested in pilot ecosystems (WP2). Furthermore, E6 can build on the experience of Resourceful Cities with upscaling initiatives, because E6 also foresees upscaling jointly developed and tested solutions to more ecosystems in WP3. Also within Resourceful Cities knowledge on ecosystem development, connecting local initiatives and stakeholders through mapping of a circular ecosystem, building thematic clusters to create momentum and scale can be a good starting point for the Community of Practice approach in specific domains of E6. Moreover, the experience in supporting community and business opportunities can be a good basis for developing circular business models in E6 WP1. E6 will take into considerations the lessons learning from the Resourceful cities project regarding the following topics: scope, mapping, understanding the ecosystem and key stakeholders, activating the circular economy through cooperation and collaboration on a wide scale. Another fruitful link between Resourceful Cities and E6 can be the local waste to resource policy framework that has been adopted in the ecosystem of The Hague, because it offers ideas on how to translate EU legislation into local policy. (EN), Based on the thematic focus of ‘waste’ and ‘circular economy’ we made a selection of potential partners to achieve synergy with.
- Project WEEEWaste started March 2023
- Interwaste started March 2023
- Karma started March 2023
- Reduces started August 2019
- OptiWaMag started August 2019
- Ceci started August 2019
- SMART WASTE started August 2019
(EN) | We have clustered the Interreg NWE projects according to the E6 plans and potential synergies we will explore. Below we present the potential synergies with the WPs of E6.
WP 1: Develop tools/functional solutions for supporting RRR ecosystems (knowledge and expertise areas: place-based circular model, digital tools):
1) Project WEEEWaste started March 2023
2) Reduces started August 2019
3) Ceci started August 2019
WP 2: Establish regional ecosystems across the NWE countries to pilot the integrated PBCM for RRR (knowledge and expertise areas: mapping of the (actors) in the ecosystem, mapping the present treatment of EEE flows and envisaging the road towards circularisation (road mapping), and monitoring the implementation; circular business models):
1) Interwaste started March 2023
2) Karma started March 2023
3) OptiWaMag started August 2019
4) SMART WASTE started August 2019
WP 3: Upscaling practices for making RRR the first solution in CE transition strategy for EEE (knowledge and expertise areas: place-based EEE waste management, regional and local policy):
1) Interwaste started March 2023
2) Karma started March 2023
3) OptiWaMag started August 2019
4) SMART WASTE started August 2019 (EN), The success of local repair ecosystems not only depends on local actors and context. The way products are designed, the availability of repair information and spare parts, labour costs, targets on waste collection also play an important role in enabling and stimulating repair activities. These structural factors are addressed both in European and national policy initiatives, including:
-Sustainable Product Initiative (SPI). This initiative is aimed at making products more durable, reusable and repairable. It includes different measures like Ecodesign Sustainable Product Regulations (ESPR), a Digital Product Passport (DPP), national incentives and a ban on the destruction of unsold goods, possibly including EEA
a)ESPR: sets norms in order to improve the durability, reusability and reparability of products placed on the European market (including requirements on availability of spare parts, repair information an d ease of disassembly)
b)DPP: aims that each product is uniquely identifiable and has a data carrier that allows certain data to be stored/read in order to stimulate the repairing, reuse and recycling of products
c)National Incentives: stimulates member states to use fiscal measures to promote sustainable products and services
-The European Right to Repair Initiative (RtR) aims to make repair better affordable and easier, both within and outside the legal guarantee period
-The Revision of the WEEE Directive - and its transposition in national law. This direction sets targets for the WEEE collection (recycling, reuse) and the prevention of WEEE
-The Loi Antigaspillage in France (in place since 2021). It includes a Repair Index, a Repair Fund to make repair more affordable and the Obligation to offer second hand spare parts as an option for repairs
-The Belgian Circular Action Plan: including a Repair Index that will come into force in 2025
Synergies with other national circular action plans and policy initiatives will be further investigated during the project (EN) | Synergies with European policy initiatives:
Our project activities can build on and contribute to the objectives of the SPI and the RtR. They are a test case to see what the effect of the measures taken are, and what barriers are still to be tackled by future regulations under the SPI, in particular the ESPRs and the DPP. For instance, repair activities can help to identify common failures, crucial spare parts, affordability and accessibility of spare parts of products covered/not yet covered by ESPR. The tools that will be developed in the E6 project can help identify which data is / should be included in a DPP to enhance repair activities. As some pilots will also work on redirecting WEEE from recycling to repair and reuse, we will also collect relevant input for the Revision of the WEEE Directive and its transposition into national legislation.
Insights and experiences from the development of tools and repair activities in the local pilots will be translated into policy papers, input for EC calls for evidence, public consultations and stakeholder feedback to feed the European legislative process. On the other hand, our involvement in European legislative processes is also an opportunity to inform the general public and organisations on European policy initiatives on the transition to a circular economy, to take up an active role in it.
Synergies with national policy initiatives:
As the project is active in different member states, it will allow to compare the effect of national policy initiatives on local repair initiatives, like repair indexes (France, Belgium, Europe), financial incentives for repair (repair fund in France, repair vouchers in Germany) and other national incentives to promote sustainable products/services. Through the policy monitoring work within the project we can monitor and compare national incentives and give advice for the further development and implementation of national policy initiatives to promote the repair economy. (EN), Circular BusinEEEs is a proposal for step 2 Interreg NWE application in call 2. The Saxion department 'Business models' and Repair&Share were asked by the project coordinator of Circular BusinEEEs to become PP in this project. Circular BusinEEEs focusses on the collection side of WEEE to increase collection rates. It aims to pilot with a number of solutions for collection (e.g. Post Office Collection, Smart delivery boxes) and incentives for current owners to hand in relatively high value WEEE. In addition, it will carry out market assessments to produce territorial action plans and provide training actions. (EN) | Both E6 and circular BusinEEEs are preparing a step 2 Interreg NWE application in call 2. Both projects proposals are in priority domain 2.6 and both have a focus on WEEE. By the end of June 2023 the coordinators of both project proposals have become aware of each other's existence. Saxion University of Applied Science is the lead partner of the E6 project which will be coordinated by the department of Region Development. Another Saxion department (Business models) is project partner in Circular BusinEEEs. E6 lead partner Saxion has met with the proposal developer of circular BusinEEEs in early July 2023 to learn more about the differences and similarities between both project initiatives.
E6 takes a more systemic approach to support the whole product journey for WEEE from a user perspective, whereas BusinEEEs focusses on the collection side of WEEE to increase collection rates.
If both projects are approved we will further explore possible synergies with circular BusinEEEs in the implementation of E6. (EN), The SEROI+ (Social and Economic Return on Investment with Open Innovation) is a new paradigm created through the Interreg Europe project ERUDITE (>March 2023). It provides a process to support to the creation of Multi-Stakeholder Operational and Business Models, such as circular value chains, where value creation goes beyond the economic value created by the public or private investment or for the focal service or company at the end of the supply chain. The second function is to enable the forecasting or evaluation of impact throughout the value network created by the investment: this includes social and environmental outcomes that can be mapped within or outside the traditional boundaries of the value chain. SEROI+ uses Shared Value Creation (SVC) which requires the identification of all stakeholders impacted by the change resulting from an investment/value chain and involves a tangible approach to the identify positive and/or negative outcomes experienced by each stakeholder which is then translated into monetary value.
To facilitate the forecast and evaluation of impact the project has created (now in Alpha Version) a SEROI+ Calculator and Social, Economic & Environmental project management tool which : Creates an intuitive breakdown of a project’s forecasted costs and outcomes at stakeholder level; evaluate intangible performance indicators through a verified set of social, economic & environmental proxy values and identifies the most valuable project outcomes for each stakeholder and enables the user to export & visualize your findings. (EN) | The SEROI+ creation of Multi-Stakeholder Operational and Business Model methodology can be applied as is in the E6 pilots. The SEROI+ calculator has the potential to be used in E6 to predict and evaluate the ecological, economic and social impact (SEROI) of ecosystems and constituent value chains and in particular predict and evaluate the global value created through public, private and community investment. It has the potential to operate various levels of investment and of the ecosystems and value chains themselves to demonstrate that the place-based model is more virtuous than other reuse models.
To achieve this several functionalities need to be added to make this calculator suitable for the evaluation and forecasting of the global return on investment that the various RRR ecosystems/ value chains could achieve. These include
Database of WEEE indicators and values for E6 pilots for SEROI Calculator
Decentralised hosting
Updating of historical ‘monetary’ or ‘proxy’ values to current values
Multilingual operation
APIs to modify dynamically the values of indicators and to access data to show the impact of the ecosystems live on another website.
Other functionalities would be identified through participatory workshops at project and local level. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 8 154 036.18

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 4 892 421.66

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 60.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 4 892 421.66. Co-financing rate, 60.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

Common methodology for setting-up city-regional RRR-ecosystems
Strategy paper “how to run an ecosystem”
Developing methods for comparability of ecosystems, definition KPIs, development stakeholder surveys
Needs analysis
List of baseline use cases
Inventory and scorecard
Development roadmap
List of key components of the service hub
Component lists
Product identification
Database architecture
Database dashboard treated devices
Tool databases
Segmentation of end-users in Leuven and Apeldoorn
Customer journey
Comparative awareness study citizens within different ecosystems
Guidelines for communication strategy
Promotion/communication campaign
Listing existing tools and data sources for decision support
Device/product ID tools for citizens
Decision-making tools for devices
Remote support tools
Inclusion tools
Integration device tracking
Usage of NLP/GPT technology in tools
Validated tool for coordinating ecosystem players in delivery optimization
Validated collection and repair protocol in multi-component service hub
Integration workflow tool in multi-component service hub
Businessmodels for diagnostic and selection points (incl. service blueprint)
Businessmodels for repair hubs (incl. service blueprint and conditions)
Businessmodels for refurbishment hubs (service blueprint)
ROI calculator tool to estimate the financial feasibility of the repair business model.
Multi-actor businessmodels for a place-based circular model
Tool and supporting material for predicting and evaluating ecological, economic and social impact
Certification of quality services by workforce in RRR businesses
Analysis of existing tools and matching with defined user stories from activity 2
Integrate validated tooling in one platform with API’s
(Business) model multi-component service hub
Service hub with validated and
working tools to support RRR-models in an API-model
Pilot Plan Apeldoorn
Handbook
/protocols for RRR
Replication paper
Baseline report about the RRR-infrastructure in The Hague
RRR-hubs (Repair Cafés)
Integration of hubs and providers
Value of Repair campaign
Consumer support service
Education outroll
Pilot Plan The Hague
Results of mapping the ecosystem
Leuven Pilot Plan and its monitoring
Design and execution of a plan to increase the collection of EEE for reuse
Design and execution of Plan for a network of diagnostic support points
Design and execution of a Plan for Repair as a Service
Design and implementation of a Business Model of a Circular Hub for RRR
Series of Visionary Workshops for RRR
Plan and implementation for geographical outreach of RRR support services
Comprehensive EEE collection system
Guidebook
Showcase pilot program
Pilot Plan Aachen
RRR baseline report
Pilot Plan Nevers Agglomeration
Pilot framework
EEECollection point network
Community of Practice
Shared online catalogue for used spare parts
Local governance protocol
EEE Communication strategy
Pilot Plan Galway Gaeltacht
Establishing tools for the tracking and traceability of materials under 3R’s
Establishing Training Modules
Establishing Training hubs/repair hubs
Establishing a social enterprise under 3R’s
Linking the E6 ecosystem to the current waste management plan 2023
Awareness raising
Definition of future ecosystems
Baseline monitoring of ecosystems
Final monitoring of ecosystems
Overview joint training scheme first line
Overview joint training scheme second line
Overview joint training scheme third line
Training module first line
Training module second line
Training module third line
Mapping of structural barriers & opportunities
Report of communication to policy makers on structural barriers and opportunities for RRR ecosystems
Report of communication to EEA producers on structural barriers & opportunities for RRR ecosystems
Outreach agenda (inventory and strategy to engage with target groups and events)
Project website
Communication strategy
Newsletters and social media
Attending events
Final conference

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 083 - Strategies and action plans jointly developed, Measurement unit:
RCO 085 - Participations in joint training schemes, Measurement unit:

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 081 - Completions of joint training schemes, Measurement unit:
RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
RCR 079 - Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations, Measurement unit:

Programme Result Indicator:

PSR 1: Organisations with increased institutional capacity due to their participation in cooperation activities across borders, Measurement unit: Organisations

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B North West Europe

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-05-12

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

70 / 70 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

739 / 739 (100%)

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Ecosystems for Extended-lifetime of End-of-Use Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Description

Thematic information

Partners (20)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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