Working themes

ACR+ has six main themes around which its work is based: these are:

1. Prevention
2. Recycling
3. North-South co-operation
4. Economic instruments
5. Legal instruments
6. European Policy
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1. Prevention  Earth

Waste prevention at source is closely linked to the improvement of manufacturing processes and to the change of consumers’ behaviour, thus more widely to sustainable production and consumption. Local and regional authorities are in a good position to act for several reasons:

  • they have an influence on some legal, economic and voluntary instruments for resource and waste management
  • they are close to citizens and best placed to provide them with reliable information
  • they are a go-between between key actors at the local level: manufacturers, retailers, associations and social economy
  • they are themselves important consumers, may act as a model and influence the development of new markets for green products.


ACR+ activities in the field of prevention aim to provide the Members of the Association with ideas and examples of action to promote sustainable management of resources and waste.

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2. Recycling  Green Bottles

A large part of municipal waste comprises of materials which may be reused in the same state, or after being transformed, to manufacture new products. Waste then constitutes a source of secondary raw material. Recycling helps to reduce the amount of waste that is landfilled or incinerated, as well as to reduce the consumption of primary natural resources.

Recycling is also a source of employment creation in Europe through the development of the recycling industry and of the activities related to reuse and repair, which are notably carried out by social enterprises.

For the ease recycling, the separation of the different materials is essential. Setting up selective collection for households is becoming steadily more common.

Local and regional authorities are confronted to numerous questions, such as: - Which methods for selective collection should be used? - How can the expectations of recycling companies met? - What is the best way to inform, educate and encourage participation of the public? - Which legal, economic and voluntary instruments exist to promote recycling? - How to cooperate with the different actors in recycling?

The activities carried out by ACR+ regarding recycling and selective collection aim to inform its Members and to inspire them to develop their own solutions, adapted to the specificities of their local context.

3. North-South co-operation  Compass

At the 10-year anniversary of ACR+, its members expressed a wish to develop a new working axe based on the exchange political reflections and practical experiences on sustainable management of "waste, products and resources" with local, regional and national authorities from southern Mediterranean countries.

These activities are closely linked with the developments of the European Neighbourhood Policy.

4. Economic Instruments     Euros

The use of economic instruments by local authorities raises many questions :

- What are the benefits and the drawbacks of each system?
- What are the most appropriate instruments to achieve their objectives?
- What are the pernicious effects and how to avoid them?
- What are the consequences of “Green Dot” systems for local and regional authorities?
- Which accompanying measures are necessary to ensure effective functioning of the chosen system?
- What are the consequences on collection and treatment costs?

ACR+ attempts to answer these questions and encourage debate by mobilising its network of experts and experienced actors.

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5. Legal Instruments   BOOKS             

Since 1975, the European Union has been developing waste legislation, with the aim of harmonising national practices. This regulation has evolved within a larger framework of the European environmental policy and of the principles underlying it. For exapmle: the prevention and precautionary principle, the “polluter pays” principle, the principle of a high level of environmental protection, and the subsidiarity principle.

Complementary principles may be defined in regard to waste:

  • the principle of effective management without risk
  • the principle of hierarchical management (prevention, recycling and reuse, and disposal without risk)
  • the principle of the producer responsibility


ACR+ closely follows the evolution of this legislation and analyses its impact at local level. The activities of the Association mainly aim to support local authorities to prepare themselves and implement the legislation, and to select the regulatory instruments most suited to fulfil their obligations. Producer responsibility and new systems aimed to implement it are a main area of concern. ACR+ also participates in working groups organised by the European Commission on policies relating to waste, and may thus mirror the concerns and specificities of local authorities..

6. European Policy  eu flag

Europe is on the brink of revising EU policy on waste and resources, and the Association of Cities and Regions for Recycling and sustainable resource management (ACR+) is a place to exchange information on the developments of European Waste policies.