The RE-USE project officially started on 13 November with the Kick-off Meeting held at Palazzo Nervegna in Brindisi. The initiative, funded under the Interreg Greece–Italy 2021–2027 Programme, brings together four municipalities — Brindisi, Matera, Patras and Arta — to reduce waste and promote more responsible consumption models.
RE-USE will establish Reuse Centers in each partner city. These will be prefabricated spaces integrated into local waste collection systems and fully dedicated to giving everyday objects a second life.
Citizens will be able to bring usable items to the centers, where they will be evaluated, catalogued and, if needed, repaired before being made available again — often free of charge.
These centers aim to:
- reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills,
- limit the consumption of new raw materials,
- promote solidarity and social inclusion by providing access to useful goods for more vulnerable groups.
Alongside the creation of the four centers, RE-USE includes a range of educational and strategic actions designed to support behavioral change among citizens and institutions. These activities include:
- preliminary studies and assessments,
- analysis of consumption habits,
- awareness-raising campaigns,
- training sessions for local stakeholders.
All these efforts will contribute to a joint “Zero Waste” Action Plan, an operative tool to help municipalities strengthen their environmental policies.
As highlighted by Gelsomina Macchitella, Head of the Economic Planning and Development Department of the Municipality of Brindisi, the project marks a key step toward strengthening circular economy practices. She emphasized the importance of cross-border cooperation, as working together helps build solutions that are inclusive, replicable, and aligned with European directives on waste reduction.
In the coming months, partners will continue technical activities, preliminary studies, and detailed planning of the Reuse Centers. In parallel, the project will launch communication and community-engagement initiatives to inform and involve citizens across the cross-border area.
