Webinar: safe jobs in the circular economy

Circular economy EPSU report 2020

(30th October 2020) Last Friday, 23rd October, Vera Weghmann from the Public Service International Research Unit presented her recent report, “Safe Jobs in the Circular Economy - Health and Safety in Waste and Wastewater Management” in a webinar organised by EPSU.

The report, commissioned by EPSU, focuses on essential waste sector workers and the fundamental role they play in the circular economy, a core part of the fight against climate change.

The climate emergency and ensuring a Just Transition are on top of EPSU's agenda. EPSU therefore welcomes the EU Circular Economy action plan which promises a move to a new sustainable economic model. However, we have two main concerns: the occupational health and safety of workers in the waste and waste water sectors must be improved along with the need to promote the role of local authorities in moving toward a circular economy.

In the webinar, Vera outlined some of the main policy recommendations from her recent report which put the health and safety of waste sector workers at the heart of circular economy activities.