Community organisations are being encouraged by the Council to access free furniture, stationery and equipment that is no longer needed and is being given away locally.
Councils from across the country are offering old furniture
The national online re-use network WARPit (Waste Action Resource Portal) gives away hundreds of surplus reusable items that would otherwise have been wasted by being sent to landfill or lying unused.
Charities, social enterprises, and community or faith groups delivering a social objective can access the local group on the WARPit network set-up by the Council – this means sports clubs, scouts and brownies and any groups serving a social or charitable purpose can join.
The Council, Avon & Somerset Police, the universities and some schools are already uploading surplus items onto the network such as chairs, drawers, shelving, fixtures and fittings, and stationery.
Councillor Paul Crossley (Lib-Dem, Southdown), Leader of Council, said: “The concept behind WARPit is incredibly simple. Just like private businesses or homeowners, public organisations also have things they don’t need as time goes on.
“Bath & North East Somerset Council has created a really good opportunity to put that material to good use in the local community, rather than it gathering dust or being disposed of completely.
“We hope that both more organisations will come forward to claim unwanted items and more will also join-up to upload unwanted items.”
Dave Matthews, Administrative Officer at Avon and Somerset Police, said: “We are in the process of moving stations and have found WARP-it an essential way to reuse and release unwanted furniture back into the community. It reduces furniture going to landfill as well as a CO2 reduction, money saved goes into front line policing.”
If an item is claimed, the group claiming it are responsible for arranging collection or transportation.
Even if you don’t need anything immediately you might wish to register your group to be kept up to date with what is available.
Register by following this link: www.warp-it.co.uk/bathnescommunity
