London Re-use Network opens 1 million centre

The West London Re-use Centre was opened by fashion designer and co-founder of fashion label Red or Dead, Wayne Hemmingway MBE. The centre, which is operated by reuse charity Furnish, forms part of the London Reuse Networks growing web of reuse projects across the capital.

The 37,000 square foot centre features repair workshops, a computerised product tracking system and a retail space which will handle items such as furniture, fridges, cookers and other electrical appliances.

Feedstock for the centre will come from contracts with local authorities, housing associations, commercial sources as well as donations from the public which are collected through LRN’s Re-use Hotline.The items will be repaired, if required, and then sold at a discounted price to people in need.

In its first year of operation the annual capacity of the centre will be 1,400 tonnes which will increase to 2,500 by its fifth year. Half of this tonnage will come from commercial sources.

LRN said the centre will help divert up to 8,900 tonnes of reusable household items from landfill and incineration and is expected to create 25 full-time equivalent jobs and 75,000 hours for work placements and volunteering over the next five years.

A total of 1 million has been invested in the West London Re-use centre by LRN and the Shepherds Bush Housing Group, as part of a major expansion or reuse capacity across London. LRNs funding comes from the London Waste and Recycling Board (LWaRB) (see letsrecycle.com story).

LRN has helped to fund a number of other projects across the capital including an appliance and furniture reuse workshop in Smugglers Way, Wandsworth, a pan-London paint scheme as well as a workshop and retail space in Friern Barnet.

Benefits

Commenting on the site in Greenford, Mr Hemmingway MBE said: I was brought up in a thrifty household and have always understood the value of reuse. And if you become a regular reuser you know that not only are you helping the environment by giving good quality household items a new home, but you are giving a helping hand to long-term unemployed people by helping to create job and work placement opportunities. On top of that you are saving your local council the cost of disposing of unwanted goods, which could help to keep your council tax down too.

Charles Craft, London Reuse Networks managing director, added: Integrated reuse services are the way forward and the West London Re-use Centre is a flagship example. It goes beyond providing training opportunities for local people and offering discounts to vulnerable people so that they can afford to furnish their homes.

Not only will the centre handle reuse streams and services from commercial and public sectors, local authorities and housing associations it will be a major partner with West London reuse schemes, with reuse trading partners right across London and deliver greater benefit to all.

Strategy

The centre in Greenford is part of a five year strategy by LRN which includes landfill diversion and investment targets. The Network had a rocky start after it fell short of its reuse target by almost 50% in its first financial year (see letsrecycle.com story).

However in November 2012, following a revision of its five year strategy, LRN said it had smashed its reuse and recycling targets by 30% – growing by 2,590 tonnes in 2011/12. The Network said it is on track to hit its five year target of handling an additional 13,365 tonnes in its fifth year.