Throughout Europe, the European Week for Waste Prevention is celebrated, a common framework that encourages action. actions to reduce, reuse and recycle in administrations, educational centers, entities and companies. This year, the thematic focus once again highlights the growing challenge of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).
In Spain, numerous cities have prepared activities from November 22nd to 30th (with local programs that, in some cases, They start a few days earlier or extend until the beginning of DecemberThe agenda combines awareness campaigns, live workshops, exchange networks, and pilot projects that put the circular economy in the daily lives of citizens.
Gipuzkoa: from waste to value with eleven proposals
Gipuzkoa is committed to a program with eleven initiatives that cover the entire waste hierarchy —prevention, reuse and recycling— and that underline this year's motto: “Connect the value, disconnect the waste”According to the Provincial Council, the circular economy in the region already has a significant impact on employment and activity, with projects seeking to scale its impact.
Among the novelties stands out the Sanitary Preparation for Reuse (CPR) Centeraimed at recovering orthopedic equipment for social purposes in collaboration with community organizations. Reuse is also reinforced by the opening of the bulky waste facility. Emaús Gizarte Fundazioa and Koopera Environmental Services in Urnieta, where repair and reconditioning They generate inclusive employment.
Prevention is being implemented through a pilot project in Axular Lizeoa together with Ausolan and the Basque Culinary Center for avoid food waste in school cafeterias through safe freezing and controlled donation to the Food Bank. In addition, the campaign Zero Zabor Uretan It concludes its tour along the Basque coast after involving hundreds of organizations against marine litter.
Regarding recycling, the GK Recycling Tent It transforms Okendo Square (Donostia) into a demonstration space, with a live laboratory of plastic recycling managed by Sutargi and the presence of Materiategi Lab by NaturklimaThe program is completed by the exhibition “Modeling the Circular Economy”, the Sustainable Fashion Show at Naturklima and a charity dinner featuring locally sourced ingredients, in addition to the Women and Sustainability in Circular Economy Award.
Barcelona: WEEE, exchange and responsible consumption
Barcelona structures its agenda with an emphasis on the WEEE and responsible consumption, with activities spread across its network of facilities. The opening includes a screening of the documentary Reendollats and a expert round tableMeanwhile, the ReparaTruck initiative brings small appliance repairs closer to the street.
The city activates the exchange network “Refresh your wardrobe” in 34 facilities (valid until mid-December) and “Renew your toys” in eleven centers (mid-December), promoting giving second lives to clothes and games. Also premiering is “Positive devices, a collection service Units"in green points, and the educational program "Change the chip" to work with young people on the impact of digital technology.
All these resources fall within the Climate Plan and reinforce strategies such as the Zero Waste plan and the “Barcelona Zero Plastic Commitment”, integrating composting workshops, oil reuse or the production of sustainable products.
Castile and León and Extremadura: schools as an engine of change
In León, the City Council and the Regional Government are promoting a program with environmental education for Infant and Primary school, including the 5Rs rule (reduce, reuse, repair, recycle and reflect) through adapted stories and crafts about selective collectionA social media campaign is also planned to amplify the messages and bring them into homes and public spaces.
Villanueva de la Serena strengthens awareness in educational centers with visits to clean point to learn about recycling flows firsthand. In parallel, it is launching a mobile clean point —with a compartmentalized mobile truck— to facilitate the delivery of special household waste near schools, and promotes theoretical and practical recycling workshops and reuse with 3rd grade primary school students.
Reus: school exchange and workshops to extend useful life
Reus joins in with a fortnight of activities coordinated by the City Council, the educational community and social entities, giving special importance to the WEEEThe Reus Palm hosts the School Exchange Market so that children and young people can exchange books, toys, sports or school equipment, and measure the impact in kilograms of waste prevented.
The program includes school visits to mobile clean point within the Reus Escoles 2030 plan. Other proposals range from workshops to decorate for Christmas with recycled materials to sustainable practices at the Institute of Horticulture and Gardening: preparation of potassium soap, use of eggshells as an amendment and preparation of herbal cream with medicinal plants.
Campaigns are also being promoted WEEE collection in educational centers such as the Escola Prat de la Riba, and exhibitions in preschools to promote the reuse of everyday materials.
Companies joining in: the case of Covirán
The business sector also uses the week to highlight its commitments. The cooperative Covran reports progress in its circular economy model: in the last fiscal year they recycled the 85% of waste generated (1.723 out of 2.027 tons), practically eliminated hazardous waste and consolidated the recycling of 100% of cardboard and plastic.
The company highlights measures such as the use of solar energy in logistics platforms, the bulk sale of fruits and vegetables, and the reduction of paper through digitalization of processes and brochures. It also highlights the key role of partners and staff in the continuous improvement of collection and sorting.
Key European points: waste hierarchy and WEEE priority
European Week insists on the management pyramid: First preventthen reuse and, finally, recycle. With WEEE as the main topic, measures are being promoted to improve collection and treatment, and, above all, to avoid its generation extending the lifespan of the devices.
Some everyday gestures fit into this hierarchy and have an immediate impact: choosing the reparación Instead of replacing, share or rent instead of buying, choose products with less packaging and properly separate unavoidable waste.
The set of initiatives deployed in Gipuzkoa, Barcelona, León, Villanueva de la Serena, Reus and other locations reflects a shared roadmap: Less waste at the source, more second lives, and better recyclingThe involvement of administrations, schools, entities and companies shows that the circular economy is not a distant theory, but a practice that is already changing habits and producing measurable results throughout the territory.
