Why Waste have been excellent at finding outlets locally for us to recycle wood, polystyrene, matresses and charity items.

- Simon Ripley, Ikea, Leeds

Community Groups and the WhyWaste exchange

What is the community waste sector?

The community waste sector (CWS) handles thousands of tonnes of material each year which would otherwise go to landfill. Local groups, charities and social businesses in Yorkshire & the Humber are always on the lookout for new materials to use and new ways of improving unwanted resources to make them useful for local people. For the most part they are adaptable, locally-focused and frugal – perfect partners for the WhyWaste programme.

What all CWS organisations have in common is a shared belief in supporting the local communities from which they arise. This means working to achieve benefits in the local economic, social and environmental spheres - the ‘Triple Bottom Line’.

 

Why are community waste organisations important?

As well as actually reducing wastage, organisations involved in reuse might have multiple aims, including:

• providing jobs and training for targeted sections of the community which find it hard to fend for themselves
• educating local people about the opportunities for reducing waste
• providing affordable items to poorer members of the local community
• supporting local volunteer groups with a supply of materials for their needs

 

All this is done without providing personal profits – any surplus made in trading is ploughed back into operations or invested in new ventures. The close ties these organisations have with local communities also provide an ideal opportunity for a business donating to WhyWaste to be seen to be helping local customers and neighbours.

Business donors can not only avoid disposal fees as a result but can also gain kudos from working with local community enterprises.

 

Examples of items wanted

There is a history of imaginative reuse of unwanted material in the CWS. If businesses are providing quantities of materials or items, community organisations are often best placed to reuse them. This goes for one-off arisings, as well as regular supplies.

Certain items are already in demand by the sector:

• Electrical appliances (large and small)
• IT equipment
• Paint
• Bicycles
• Wood
• Household furniture
• Clothing and textiles
• Tools
• Materials for children's play - cardboard tubes, plastic film & bottles, ribbon etc.

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Contact

For more information about the activities of community waste organisations in Yorkshire & the Humber, contact:

Community Waste Network, Yorkshire & the Humber
74 Kirkgate
Leeds
LS2 7DJ

T: 0113 200 3977
F: 0113 234 4222
E: paulf@crn.org.uk

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Links

Directory of community waste organisations in Yorkshire & Humber
www.crn.org.uk/cwnyh/directory/

Delivering High Quality Services: a guide to community waste sector for businesses and local authorities
http://crn.org.uk/regional/y&h/downloads/guide.pdf

Community Waste Information Centre
www.communitywaste.org.uk

Community Recycling Network
www.crn.org.uk

Community Composting Network
www.communitycompost.org

Furniture Reuse Network
www.frn.org.uk

Community RePaint
www.communityrepaint.org.uk