Reuse it
Many things we throw away haven't reached the end of their useful life.
Before you throw an item away stop and think, could someone else make use of the item or could it be repaired if it’s broken?
By reusing items we can live more sustainably, save valuable natural resources and reduce our impact upon our climate. There are lots of ways to reuse, so challenge the throw away culture and join the community reuse and repair revolution.
Donate to charity
Donating items to charity is a great way to reuse items and support a charity's work.
When donating items to charity:
- Make sure they are in good and resaleable condition
- Upholstered items must have relevant fire and hazard labels
- Don't donate furniture in a bad state of repair, with woodworm, or beds that are stained
- Check what can be accepted by each organisation
View our list of local reuse organisations
If you have items of solid wooden furniture that may not be suitable to donate without a small repair or some restoration please contact Studio Mirai based in Leominster who may be able to take the item.
Reuse containers at Household Recycling Centres
There are reuse containers for items in good condition at Hereford, Leominster, Ledbury, Ross-on-Wye and Kington household recycling centres. Items are collected by local charities.
If you’re unsure where the reuse container is on-site please ask a member of staff.
Sell or give away
Selling or giving away items that you no longer need has never been easier, thanks to a large variety of websites and apps.
If you’re looking to sell items, check out your local Facebook Market Place or national sites like Gumtree or Ebay.
Apps like Vinted also allow you to resell clothes.
Freegle has over 11,000 members between its Hereford and Leominster communities and is a great way to list items to you no longer want for others to take for free. Freecycle also has large communities of members across the county.
Olio is a sharing app for local communities that makes decluttering simple. The app can be used for anything from food to furniture.
Buying reused items
The purchases we make have a massive impact on the waste we produce and our carbon footprint. Buying second hand can help you find that unique item to set your living room apart, or the final piece of that outfit at a great price.
When it comes to furniture, there's quality to be found. Check out our directory of local reuse organisations, Gumtree, Ebay and Freegle and Freecycle.
Freegle and Freecycle also allow you to ask for items that you want that others may be giving away.
Hereford sits in third place on the UK Upcycling Index largely thanks to the number of antique shops, another great place to find that unique item.
Fed-up with fast fashion? Buying reused items can set you apart. Charity shops and vintage stores online and on our high streets are great sources of quality bargains. You can also buy via new apps like Vinted.
Repair
Looking after what you have got and making items last longer helps save waste, and reduce carbon. We have an expanding network of repair cafes across Herefordshire where teams of skilled volunteers will repair everyday household items. Visit our repair cafes page to find your nearest café.
Refurbish, repurpose & upcycle
Sideboard looking tired? Coffee table the wrong colour? Why not try refurbishing or repurposing items? There's lots of videos and guides online to help you try this at home. If you're not sure where to start, visit upcycle that for inspiration.
For textiles and fabrics Rose Tinted Rags is a great place to visit for salvaged and vintage fabrics, wool, haberdashery and many other related items.
Studio Mirai based in Leominster can take private commissions and donated items of furniture for restoration work. Contact them for more information.
There are many things you can do with old or tired clothes to give them a new lease of life. Visit our Care for your clothes page for more information.
If items can't be reused or repaired you can use our recycling A-Z to see if and where it can be recycled or if it's accepted in your green recycling or black waste bin or at one of our household recycling centres.