Reuse

Give items a new lease of life by reusing them.

A large proportion of what we throw away can in fact be reused. By reusing or repairing items you can help reduce the amount of waste you produce.

There are lots of opportunities for reusing items in the home or in the community. So before throwing something away, stop and think, can it be reused?

Pass it on to a furniture reuse project

Don't throw away that old sofa because someone else might be able to use it. There are a number of local outlets that will collect good quality, second hand goods for reuse. Please note that soft furnishing items will require a fire certificate and electrical items need to be in full working order.

Furniture Aid South Thames (FAST)

Accepts domestic furniture as well as white goods and other electrical equipment such as televisions. These items are passed on to vulnerable members of the community. For more information call 020 7793 7787 or visit the FAST website.

British Heart Foundation furniture and electrical shop

Accepts all good quality furniture and electrical items for sale in their shop. All proceeds go to charity. Electrical goods are fully serviced before resale and in good working order. Call 020 7740 1668:

British Heart Foundation Furniture and Electrical  
211 - 219 Old Kent Road
London
SE1 5LU

Reuse IT equipment

On average a person who owns a computer upgrades every three years to a new model, this leaves many fully working computers in need of a home. Southwark based Offers Ex IT can help you to reuse or recycle your old computer if you no longer want it. The project can also help with the provision of IT equipment such as computers and printers for business or home use. For more information please contact Lisa or Armin at CRISP on 0207 703 5222.

Take advantage of charity shops

There are loads of charity shops in Southwark that rely on donations, and customers. They stock a huge range of quality second hand products and are a great place to pick up a bargain. So think before you buy and ask yourself if you could buy that second hand?

Please note that charity shops do not generally accept electrical items. It's always best to check beforehand.

Reusing in the home

If you have something that you do not want anymore, you can pass it on by using the Southwark groups for Freecycle or Freegle. You could also find something that you would like with these free 'swapshops'.

Reuse can also be a change of use. Sometimes an everyday item does not need to end up as waste as it can be reused in a totally new way. Such as:

Reuse plastic carriers at the shops or as bin liners

• Margarine and ice cream tubs and jam jars can be used as storage containers
• Plastic drinks bottles can be refilled again and again rather than buying a new drink every time 
• Old yoghurt pots make excellent flower pots
• Plastic food trays can be used as seed trays

See junkk.com for innovative ideas on how you can think about your waste in a different way.

Use your local library

Instead of buying a new book every time, take advantage of your local library for free. Libraries in Southwark offer a range of additional services including CD, DVD and video hire, free access to the internet and a housebound and bookbus service for elderly people and people with disabilities.

In addition, there are a number of toy libraries in Southwark which can be accessed for a small fee.