Search for Recycling

New tricks for old sticks

Spring is in the air and many people’s thoughts are already turning to a spring clear-out.  As this month Waste Awareness Wales celebrates its fifth anniversary – an occasion traditionally celebrated with gifts made of wood - they are asking people to consider reusing their old furniture when they have finished with it rather than sending it to landfill.

From using websites such as Freecycle to passing your old furniture on to friends and family, there are plenty of ways to ensure your old tables, chairs and cabinets don’t have to go straight to landfill where they take up valuable room.

Anna Richards, manager of Waste Awareness Wales said:

"Celebrating our fifth year has got us all thinking about ways to reduce the amount of wood that is wasted each year. When we get new furniture it is easy to assume nobody will want it when we choose something else, but there are usually plenty of people who will want or need the item we are looking to replace. Whether it’s giving it to a family member or donating to someone you don’t know, there are plenty of ways we can help reduce the amount of furniture we send to landfill each year.

"Recycling rates in Wales are at an all-time high, which is fantastic news, but there are always other ways we can help reduce the amount we waste, such as making sure our unwanted furniture is reused rather than heading for landfill."

Reusing and Freecycling: tips for reusing your old furniture

Get Freecycling

Like a free auction website, www.freecycle.org is a great way to get rid of your unwanted furniture. Just enter the details of what you want to get rid of, and people will get in touch offering to take it off your hands. The person taking the item will come and collect it, so getting rid of your unwanted furniture costs you nothing. Even the finest specimens of sixties furniture design are likely to find a better home than the bottom of a skip here, as Freecycle is a fertile hunting ground for drama groups looking for props.

Furnish a new home

Research by Standard Life has revealed that the majority of first time buyers kit out their new homes with hand-me-down furniture, so check if anyone you know could do with some furniture for their house.

Community reuse schemes

There are local community reuse schemes across Wales, where furniture is donated, repaired if necessary, and given to people who need it. Visit www.cylch.org/open_search.php or www.frn.org.uk to find your nearest scheme.

Makeover your furniture

If the only problem is that your furniture is looking a little tired or dated, consider if it can be updated, re-upholstered or stripped down and repainted or revarnished to save you having to buy a whole new set – saving you money as well as our landfill sites.