Most of the citizens of Capannori, Italy, are familiar with the circular economy and reuse procedures, but demand more infrastructures and equipment to promote this practice. This is the main conclusion drawn from the survey conducted as part of the REUSEMED project to find out the knowledge and relationship of citizens with the circular economy and reuse.

Specifically, 56% of respondents acknowledged that they would like to have more infrastructures, stores and reuse centers in their locality. In addition, the survey, which analyzed a sample of 1,247 inhabitants of the city, collected the recommendations of the residents of Capannori to promote reuse practices, among which stand out the training of students at school level (59%), the opening of reuse centers in strategic locations (55%).

The study also provides some optimistic data. Seventy-three percent of those surveyed say they have acquired some second-hand item in the past, especially books (45%), furniture (38%), clothing (35%) or consumer electronics. On the other hand, 53.6% of respondents say they would buy books, DVDs, video games and toys, 42.1% would do the same with furniture and 36.1% would not hesitate to buy consumer electronics.

REUSEMED proposes to create municipal networks based on reuse circuits for home appliances, furniture, books, clothes, Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment and food. To set up the networks, 4 cities in Spain, Italy, Jordan and Tunisia will design and test composting installations, food collection points in markets, repair and reuse centers, reuse corners in shops and repairing cafes.