Tools for Self Reliance and Tools with a Mission

Tools reuse schemes which help people in developing countries to earn a living and support their families are now available to members of the public at Ripon, Malton & Norton and Northallerton Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC’s).

The schemes with were set up with volunteers from two charities - ‘Tools with a Mission’ at Malton & Norton HWRC and ‘Tools for Self Reliance’ at Ripon and Northallerton HWRC’s collect unwanted tools, sewing and knitting machines, refurbish them, and then send them overseas where people use them to learn new skills and earn a living.

Many of us have unwanted and even unused tools and sewing machines in our workshops, garages, lofts or garden sheds and all too often these are discarded when we have a clear out.

By donating unwanted tools to one of these schemes we could make a real difference to the lives of people in the developing world and also reduce the amount of tools that are needlessly thrown away in North Yorkshire.

Keith Wright, a volunteer for Tools with a Mission who empties the container at Malton & Norton HWRC said: "We need tools and equipment which can be used across different trades and skills to help people to help themselves and their families. Tools which can be used by joiners, blacksmiths, plumbers, builders, electricians and tailors are all welcome."

For more information on any of the tool reuse schemes - or to find out what else can be reused or recycled at the HWRCs - contact the Waste Management team on 01609 532512 or email waste.management@northyorks.gov.uk.

You can find a huge range of online organisations that provide opportunities for reuse. Some of them are listed below.

Freecycle®

Freecycle® is an internet-based, not for profit organisation dedicated to reducing landfill by "gifting" reusable items rather than sending them to landfill. It is staffed entirely by volunteers, and membership is open to all, including businesses, community groups and charities. In the UK there are 497 groups and membership to these groups is growing by approximately 1,000 members per day. In North Yorkshire there are seven groups (Harrogate, Ripon, Scarborough, Selby, Northallerton and Thirsk, Ryedale and Skipton and Craven) and one in York. Membership is free and there are no other charges. Each group is run by a volunteer whose task is to ensure everybody follows the few basics rules - keep it legal, keep it free, and keep it appropriate!

To join your local group, visit www.freecycle.org and follow the instructions to start reducing and reusing your waste.

Freegle

Freegles philosophy is Don’t throw it away – give it away!

You might not need your old sofa or wheelbarrow any more – but there might be someone just round the corner who does. Or if there’s something you’d like, someone nearby might have one that they might just throw away if they don’t know what else to do with it.

Freegle groups make this happen online. Sign up, post an OFFER of something you want to get rid of, or a WANTED for something you need.

Freegle are a national grassroots organisation of people who are giving and receiving free unwanted items in their immediate communities. Local charities, non-profit groups and communities are encouraged to join.

All groups within this organisation operate with a basic principle – all offers and requests must be freegle (free and legal). Some groups may have additional guidelines such as no offers or requests for animals, or that items must be suitable for all ages.

Freegles aim is to keep anything reusable out of our landfill sites. Meeting new people helps to develop local community networks and friendships in the process.

To join your local group, visit www.ilovefreegle.org and follow the instructions to start reducing and reusing your waste.

Rag and Bone

Rag-and-bone.co.uk has been especially developed to link householders with items they no longer need to others who can make good use of them. It offers an alternative to throwing out large or bulky items that are still usable or repairable and enables others to benefit from them instead. To search the rag-and-bone site visit www.rag-and-bone.co.uk.

SnaffleUp

SnaffleUp.co.uk is a new website that gives people with unwanted but still useful items an opportunity to donate them to other people instead of throwing them away and adding to landfill in the UK. Unwanted items can be added to the SnaffleUp website where other people can view it and arrange collection. To search the SnaffleUp site visit www.snaffleup.co.uk.

The Starbeck Cone Exchange

The Cone Exchange is based at Taylors of Harrogate and collects all sorts of items that would otherwise go into landfill and gives them a new lease of life. It collects reading glasses, mobile phones, toner cartridges, stamps, and foreign currency. For more information contact Chris Powell on 07515 061721 or coneexchange@bettysandtaylors.co.uk.