Reuse, repair, and recycling project launched in Finsbury Park (Islington Liberal Democrats)

Islington Liberal Democrats <Islington_ld@cix.co.uk>

Reuse, repair, and recycling project launched in Finsbury Park

February 10, 2010 11:11 AM

Cllr Greg Foxsmith at Bright Sparks launch

Councillor Greg Foxsmith launched Islington's new recycling scheme for electrical goods.

'Bright Sparks', a new project for recycling and reusing electrical goods has been launched by Islington's Liberal Democrat council at a meeting at the Finfuture HQ. A new workshop in Finsbury Park will train apprentices to repair broken electric and electronic equipment, which will then be resold in a nearby shop.

The project is still in the early stages, but the council is already working with partners including regeneration body Finfuture, Homes for Islington, and social enterprise DigiBridge. The workshop and shop are expected to open in the Spring.

Collection points for broken electrical goods will be established around the borough in partnership with Homes for Islington.

Islington's Liberal Democrat council has increased the amount of rubbish sent for recycling in the borough to 35%, up from just 3% when Labour ran the council. Furniture collected in the council's bulky waste collection is already passed to the Homestore charity for reconditioning and reuse. But this is the first time in Islington that electrical waste is going to be reused and recycled - and is expected to become a model for London.

Waste electrical goods - from hairdryers to phones to washing machines - make up the fastest-growing waste problem in the UK, and in one year the amount of electrical waste we create in the UK would fill Wembley Stadium six times. Over 75% of discarded and broken electrical goods end up in landfill, where lead and other toxins can cause soil and water contamination.

The 'Bright Sparks' project will make Islington a leader in tackling this problem. The initiative is being set up by Liberal Democrat councillors working together with Islington's Green councillor.

Lib Dem councillor Greg Foxsmith, Islington's environment chief, commented:

"Our consumer society throws away vast amounts of electronic and electrical goods, most of which just goes to landfill. A lot of what goes in the bin could go to a good home. Even if it's broken, it is often possible to mend it rather than just buying a new one. This is key to creating a more environmentally sustainable society."