E6 Ecosystems for Extended-lifetime of End-of-Use Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Tackling Electronic Waste in Gaeltacht Communities and Beyond

The rapid increase in Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in Gaeltacht Communities, including the North-West Europe region (NWE), is a growing concern, primarily due to the shortening life cycles of electronic devices. Addressing this issue requires a systemic change. While new EU regulations are driving the transition, the major challenge lies in their implementation: prioritizing reuse, refurbishment, and repair (RRR) for citizens. Regions and cities, being close to the daily usage of electronic equipment, are promoting innovative circular economy experiments to meet this challenge.

 

About the E6 Project

The E6 Project is dedicated to developing both physical and digital infrastructures to provide accessible support for citizens and to facilitate a new economy centered around RRR. The aim of the partnership is to promote the transition to a circular and resource-efficient economy, shifting from a ‘buy-first’ to a ‘repair-first’ mindset.

 

Main Objectives of E6 Project

  • Promote the transition to a circular and resource-efficient economy.
  • Increase the capacity of regions to provide Gaeltacht citizens with the first choice of reuse, repair, and refurbishment of electrical and electronic equipment.
  • Create tools and methods to support RRR ecosystems.
  • Develop resources, raise awareness, and scale up initiatives.
  • Implement six regional action plans to test the approach with key actors, prioritizing citizen engagement.

Key Outcomes

  • Build a European capacity for first-line reuse, repair, and renewal of electronic and electro-appliances, based on six ‘pilot ecosystems’, one of which will be based in the Galway Gaeltacht.
  • These ecosystems will be supported by a ‘Service Hub’, along with scaling-up through learning experiences with Communities of Practice and policy advocacy.

 

The Interreg Northwest Europe program is funding the three and a half year E6 project, or ‘Ecosystems for Extended-lifetime of End-of-Use Electrical and Electronic Equipment’. This initiative involves 19 partners across Europe, with a total budget of €8,150,000.00 and ERDF funding of €4,892,447.00. The project is led by Saxion University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands), with Irish partners Ernact and Comhairle Ceantar na nOileán CTR.