4 March 2015 Guide

Household Waste Prevention Hub: Re-use - Benefits of re-use

By repairing or re-using goods which still retain some operational value there are social, financial and environmental benefits in comparison to producing a brand new product.  

Environmental benefits

  • Reduction in demand on finite natural resources and the associated environmental impacts of the extraction, harvesting and processing of those resources.
  • Minimisation of greenhouse gas emissions associated with waste collection, transportation and treatment.

Financial benefits

  • Lower costs of purchasing items (instead of purchasing new items at greater cost).
  • Potential cost savings to residents in areas where they pay for bulky waste collections.
  • Reduced local authority waste management budget (if handling smaller quantities of waste).

Social benefits

  • Creation of jobs and training opportunities for disadvantaged groups such as the long term unemployed, ex-offenders, those with disabilities etc.
  • Creation of further options for volunteering in the community.
  • Local residents can buy or obtain goods which they may have not been able to afford as new items. 
  • Increased social inclusion gained from people partaking in community activities.
  • Certain re-use schemes can be linked to fundraising for the local community.

Download files

  • Domestic Furniture chapter_final.pdf

    PDF, 929.77 KB

  • Office Furniture_final.pdf

    PDF, 891.06 KB

  • Electricals reuse_final.pdf

    PDF, 815.31 KB

  • Clothing reuse_final.pdf

    PDF, 923.71 KB

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