Get Rid of and Donate established in 2017, environmentally focused voluntary community project in the boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark. The project initiated on the concerns of the persistent disposal of domestic and commercial waste disposed on streets and kerbside. Bulky objects, furniture, electrical, appliance and excess rubbish bags contents with much of good value and condition have been abandon on streets. This is a national phenomenon that is even more acute in inner cities.
In the UK, society has become ‘consumerist’ and more likely to have acquiring goods they don’t need. As consumers today, we need to reverse the trend of the throw-away society.
With the pressure from EU and UK Government, the reliance of landfills cannot continue with the current level. We must take control on a local level and minimise waste in communities. Our community campaign is to keep the streets clean, recycling, rejuvenating and up-cycling our donations giving back to the community.
What we'll deliver:
- A free recycle Centre for donations and exchanges for usable items
- Recycle – collation of donations giving back to charitable, homeless, disaster relief and refugee projects
- Rejuvenate – vintage and antique specific items for auction
- Upcycle – working with other community projects developing workshops for unemployed people
- Create a sustainable organisation operated and managed by volunteers from rehabilitation services
- Resource center for recyclable and grassroots materials for remakery projects, arts & crafts, mosaics
- Reuse Enterprise – social enterprise community shop for replenished and up-cycled production
- Waste Not Share Lot food exchange for unwanted and surplus food
Why it's a great idea:
We recognise the environmental impact in our communities caused by everyday usage as the population increases, the disposal of unwanted items is evident the tonnes of municipal waste generated made up of domestic waste.
One way is to recycle our usable daily consumption items i.e. furniture, bicycles (for reuse), books, carpets and rugs, electrical items, fridges and freezers, textiles, clothing and shoes, tools (for reuse) etc; these are items that can be donated for those in need.
The objective of our project is to reduce environmental impacts recycling partner with charitable organisations to reducing poverty.
We recognise poverty affects the most vulnerable within our communities we aim to serve where the need is most acute. By providing recyclable resources we can add benefit and help change life expectations. We are also raising awareness of local poverty and, reducing carbon footprint, challenging attitudes over the disposal of unwanted items.
Steps to get it done:
- Create sustainable community hubs
- Interlink with Food banks/Health Centers/ General Practitioners/Drug Rehabilitation Centre’s
- Interlink with other local Eco projects
- Placements and location for recyclable materials and textile banks
Our long term plans includes the development of our referral system used by practitioners/professionals in organisation or service teams that support people in need. The service identifies individuals acquiring employable skills, a referral process will interlinked with current social care, employment and care management services. Providing opportunities for the community to get involved with work skilled focus training in carpentry, textiles, arts & crafts, furniture up- cycling training workshops and social enterprise projects giving back skills to the unemployed and unskilled.
