Oxfordshire leads reuse revolution
Make do and mend were the messages of the day at the Waste and Resource Action Programme’s (WRAP) annual conference earlier this week. Secretary of State, Caroline Spelman addressed the Banbury-based government think tank on all things waste and recycling, highlighting how British business could save £23 billion through reducing energy, materials and water.
With reuse being even better for the environment and the purse than recycling or energy recovery, Spelman predicted the “rebirth of the skilled repair industry”.
Many people in Oxfordshire already have a culture of reuse. Over the last two years the Retrader website provided by Oxfordshire Waste Partnership (OWP) to encourage business waste exchanges, has helped local businesses reuse numerous items from wine crates to buckets and filing cabinets to pool tables. The network of businesses, charities and community organisations using the website has doubled over last year.
Lorraine Lindsay-Gale is chairman for OWP and is the councillor responsible for waste and recycling at Oxfordshire County Council. She says: “It’s great to recycle but reusing items has an even more positive environmental impact. We always try to reuse as much as possible. Our own property department for example has helped save charities and local businesses a massive £132,000 in procurements costs by reusing over 39 tonnes of waste.”
Over 77 exchanges through www.retrader.org.uk have helped save over 15 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, with desks and office chairs being items that people commonly pass on through reuse websites. Lorraine Lindsay-Gale adds: “We’d encourage Oxfordshire businesses to sign up to Retrader today and start saving on their purchasing and waste management costs.”
