In order to encourage scientific dissemination on the importance of the correct recycling and recovery of WEEE, i.e. Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE), the National Research Council (CNR), the Permanent Conference of General Directors of Italian Public Research Institutes (Codiger) and the WEEE Coordination Centre (CdC RAEE), the central body responsible for optimizing WEEE collection and management, have recently signed a framework collaboration agreement. Giuseppe Colpani, CNR Director General said that this agreement aims at strengthening the synergies among research institutes in order to promote the correct management of this specific “dual-use” waste from commercial, industrial or institutional activities by providing positive-impact solutions for Italy.
Being all public bodies users of a great amount of EEE generating dual-use WEEE, they need to start treating this technological waste in a correct way. “Public research institutes play an important role, not only and not so much as users – often important – of electric and electronic equipment, therefore producing waste, but especially, as generators of knowledge and culture about the management of technology, with a view to circularity and sustainability,” said Moreno Tivan, Codiger Generale Secretary.
Moreover, the three signatories have committed to carry out information and training activities concerning the nature and danger of WEEE for the environment, but also on their economic potential, with special focus on the importance of their correct recycling and recovery. In particular, the CNR will make available their know-how and data acquired thanks to a previously signed collaboration agreement with the same goal, while the CdC RAEE will operate in synergy with Codiger in order to identify the most interesting topics from a scientific perspective.
The recently signed protocol makes it easier to collect WEEE free of charge at collection points located in selected facilities and to subsequently deliver it to plants accredited by the CdC RAEE by the consortia collective systems.
