From kettles to clocks, mobiles, tablets and lights, plus a host of other electrical items – once they stop working, they become part of the Throwaway Society.
But a growing network of repair and reuse ventures across the North East is tackling the tide of discarded gadgets, with volunteers putting their engineering skills – or simply their enthusiasm for fixing things – to good use.
Tomorrow (October 17) is International Repair Day, and North East co-ordinator Michael Marston is using the event to spread the word about the region’s renew centres.
“The amount of goods, especially electrical, which are discarded is frightening and we can’t continue with this throwaway mentality when so many can be repaired and reused,” said Gateshead-based Michael.
“Seeing this repair and renew sector grow gives us hope.”
One of the successes has been the launch of Renew North Tyneside, a reuse shop created by a partnership of North Tyneside Council, SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK and Big Local Whitley Bay, a community-led charity working to improve the area and make it a better place to live, work and visit.
Since opening in March at what is now called Newcastle Quays (formerly Royal Quays shopping centre) the Renew shop has sold more than 30,000 used household items, giving unwanted goods a second life, reducing waste and helping residents access affordable items.
Unwanted items are transformed into affordable goods at the venue, which features retail space and a community-focused repair area designed to develop skills through volunteering and repair workshops.
Coun Willie Samuel, North Tyneside Cabinet Member for Environmental Sustainability, said: “The success of Renew North Tyneside shows how small changes can make a big impact, preventing thousands of items from going to waste while helping residents access affordable goods.”
In addition to goods which come through the door, Renew North Tyneside is supplied with donated items diverted from the council’s nearby Household Waste Recycling Centre.
Repair cafés and community fixing projects are operating and growing across the region, with locations in Amble, Rothbury, Berwick, Wooler, Cassop, Fishburn, Seaham, Consett, Chopwell, Blaydon and more,
Many bring together volunteers with practical skills and local residents looking to give broken household items a new lease of life
In Newcastle, the City Council challenged schools across the city to take part in a recycling competition to collect unwanted small electrical items.
The initiative encouraged pupils, parents, carers, school staff and local communities to recycle broken or unused electricals that are often left forgotten in drawers, cupboards and garages. Items collected included old chargers, hairdryers, electronic toys and small household gadgets.
Twelve schools took part, with more than 1,550 electrical items collected for recycling in just two weeks.
Coun Peter Lovatt, cabinet member for Neighbourhoods and Local Services, said: “Through this competition, schools, families and residents have helped recycle unwanted electrical items that may otherwise have ended up in the bin or stored away unused.”
All electrical items collected through the challenge will be recycled locally by GAP Group North East, a leading provider of electrical waste collection and recycling services based in Gateshead.
Emma Howe, head of commercial at GAP Group North East, said: “Everything collected will be recycled in the North East, and the materials recovered will go back into use instead of being wasted. An old kettle or a broken charger isn’t rubbish, it’s a resource.”
