What we do now impacts the future, and Circular Place helps us reduce waste, contributing to the resilience of our planet. Transforming surplus stock into opportunities for the non-profit sector is the goal of all the producers and distributors that make up Circular Place.
According to the Global E-Waste Monitor report and Eurostat statistics, the quantity of electrical and electronic equipment sold has increased by 89% over the past 11 years. This demonstrates that e-waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the European Union.
The best waste is the waste that is not produced
Circular Place operates on the premise that the best way to manage waste is to prevent it from being generated in the first place. This tool arose from a real need within the sector, which is currently facing the consequences of accumulating surplus stock. The production of items that ultimately go unsold is a common situation in many industries, while the Waste Law prohibits their destruction, forcing companies to seek responsible and sustainable alternatives. In this context, Circular Place offers an innovative solution that allows producers and distributors to give their surplus a second life, facilitating its redistribution and reducing environmental impact. At the same time, the platform helps promote purpose-driven social projects, generating a double benefit: minimizing waste generation and supporting initiatives that add value to the community. Furthermore, a webinar dedicated to this circularity approach was held today, with over 100 companies participating, reflecting the growing interest within the business community in adopting more responsible models aligned with sustainability.
Currently, CIRCULAR PLACE collaborates with the main Extended Producer Responsibility Collective Systems for WEEE in Spain (AMBILAMP-AMBIAFME, ECOASIMELEC, ECOFIMÁTICA, ECOLEC, ECOLUM, ECORAEE´S, ECOTIC and European Recycling Platform).
Prevention, Article 18 of the Waste Law
The launch of CIRCULAR PLACE stems from the need for manufacturers, producers, and distributors of electrical and electronic equipment to comply with environmental regulations, specifically the new Waste Law of April 2022, which stipulates the prohibition of destroying unsold products, requiring that they be primarily allocated for donation and reuse. The Waste Law states verbatim: “The destruction or disposal in landfills of unsold surplus non-perishable products such as textiles, toys, or electrical appliances, among others, is prohibited, unless such products must be destroyed in accordance with other regulations or for consumer protection and safety. Such surplus shall be allocated first to reuse channels, including donation, and when this is not possible, to preparation for reuse or to the next options in the waste hierarchy, respecting the order established in Article 8.”
About CIRCULAR PLACE
CIRCULAR PLACE is the Marketplace for donating electrical and electronic equipment intended for the development of circular economy projects in which manufacturers, producers or distributors of lighting equipment and electrical and electronic material give a second life to their surplus stock by donating it to non-profit organizations or educational entities.
