Transforming re-use through partnerships.
How two related partnerships have increased bulky waste re-use in Buckinghamshire.
- New forum and household waste recycling centre (HWRC) contract increases re-use
- Local charity runs re-use shops at HWRCs
- Focus on raising awareness of re-use opportunities and improving collection services
Two related partnership projects have helped transform the level of bulky waste re-use in Buckinghamshire. The first saw re-use built into an innovative HWRC contract, which allowed a local charity to set up shops on two HWRC sites.
The second project led to the creation of the Buckinghamshire Re-use Forum, bringing together public, private and voluntary sector organisations to identify further opportunities to divert bulky waste, such as furniture, from landfill. The forum not only helps generate stock for the shops but is also raising awareness across the county of opportunities for furniture re-use.
The single most obvious outcome of the two projects so far is a substantial increase in the volume of waste diverted from landfill - the majority of which has come through the two re-use shops.