Research highlights reusability of household waste
Shropshire Council and their contractor Veolia have been helping with a Government-funded national research project to highlight the amount of everyday items we throw away that could potentially have been reused.
During February 2012, independent researchers interviewed customers at the Shrewsbury Household Recycling Centre about their opinions on the larger items which they were putting into the recycling and rubbish skips on site. The items were then double-checked by an expert for a second opinion.
Over 1,200 individual items were checked as part of the research. In all cases the customers underestimated the potential for reuse.
For example, with electronic equipment brought to the site, residents felt that only 30% of items would be reusable. In fact almost 50% of all items were fully functional in their current condition. An additional 10% could have been reusable with simple minor repairs such as replacing parts, cleansing or merely changing the fuse. All electrical items can also be recycled.
The survey found that residents assessed around 25% of the fixtures and fittings they brought to the site were suitable for reuse; in reality, 40% of items were potentially reusable and 80% were recyclable. With furniture, residents felt less than 40% was reusable, but in fact more than 50% could have been reused.
You can recycle more than 30 different types of waste at Shropshire Council’s Household Recycling Centres, including furniture, electrical items, textiles, wood, metal, soil and rubble. However, it is even better for the environment and the economy if we can reuse these items first. Just because you can’t use something, there will be somebody else out there who can. Just donate it to a local charity or advertise it online. This has further socio-economic benefits in that it also helps local people in Shropshire to have access to items at affordable prices.
Mike Owen, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for waste and recycling, said:
“I hope that this study will help to inform the national waste strategy and encourage more people to think about how items can be simply reused or repaired. We encourage people to think about using websites like freegle.org.uk or donating items to their local furniture scheme* first, because it makes sense to try to reuse whole items rather than dismantle them for recycling.”
Donald Macphail, Managing Director of Veolia Shropshire, added:
“Veolia is keen to promote reuse, because it keeps these resources within the county and creates local training and employment opportunities to repair these items where practicable. It also helps keep waste out of landfill, which improves the overall efficiency and sustainability of the waste management service. We work closely with local charities to maximise reuse and recycling.”
Further information
* We work in partnership with several local furniture reuse schemes. All schemes collect good quality furniture, electrical items, white goods, bedding, beds, curtains, crockery and cutlery – and pass them on to those in need.
Save yourself a trip to the tip, contact your local scheme to arrange a collection:
- Shrewsbury Furniture Scheme – 01743 246668
- Oswestry & North Shropshire Furniture Scheme – 01691 679817
- South Shropshire Furniture Scheme – 01584 877751
- Bridgnorth District Furniture Scheme – 01746 764494
** National research by the Waste & Resource Action Programme has revealed that UK households throw out hundreds of millions of pounds worth of potentially reusable items each year. Although it is positive that some of these items are now being recycled, it would be even better if these items could be sold on or donated to charity.
For more information on the national reuse research programme visit www.wrap.org.uk.
