Residents encouraged to ‘Repair and Reuse’ this autumn

Residents across Croydon, Kingston, Merton and Sutton will be encouraged to ‘Repair and Reuse’ instead of ‘Throw and Replace’ at a series of events across the region this autumn.

The South London Waste Partnership has teamed up with Recycle for London to put on 15 free events during October and November all aimed at reducing the amount of waste we send to landfill or for recycling.

There will be four ‘Restart Parties’ where residents can take electronic items such as smartphones and hair dryers to be repaired; three ‘Jumble Trails’ will give neighbours the opportunity to set up stalls outside their homes and sell things that were otherwise destined for the dump; and eight ‘Love Your Clothes’ sewing workshops will help local people transform and revive old and ill-fitting clothes.  Details of all these events can be found below.

Councillor Phil Doyle, Chair of the South London Waste Partnership Joint Committee, said: “If we’re honest with ourselves, I think the vast majority of us would have to admit that we occasionally throw things away that with a little more effort and thought could have been repaired, altered, given away or even sold.  The environmental cost of disposing of electronic items and clothing can be very high.  I hope this program of events throughout the autumn will show residents that repairing and reusing can be great fun as well as being more environmentally responsible than disposal.”

Electronics

A series of ‘Restart Parties’, delivered in partnership with The Restart Project, will see electronic products that might have been destined for the scrap heap given a second chance.  Residents across the four boroughs are encouraged to bring along their slow laptops, faulty printers, misbehaving smartphones, dodgy hair dryers and delinquent toasters.  Guided by trained and experienced volunteers who get a real buzz out of fixing stuff, they will see if their electronic item can be given a new lease of life.  All items will be PAT-tested on their way in and out to ensure everything is done safely.

Restart Parties are taking place at the following locations:

• Kingston: Tuesday 18 October (6-9pm) – Richard Mayo Centre, Eden Street, Kingston, KT1 1HZ

• Croydon: Wednesday 26 October (6-9pm) – ‘The Community Space’, Bernard Weatherill House, 8 Mint Walk

• Sutton: Wednesday 9 November (6-9pm) – Sutton Library (Europa Gallery), St Nicholas Way, Sutton, SM1 1EA

• Merton: Saturday 19 November (12-3pm) – New Horizon Centre, South Lodge Avenue, Pollards Hill, Mitcham, CR4 1LT

There are a few simple rules for those planning to attend a Restart Party:

• There is no need to book ahead, but please be prepared to wait for a short time if the volunteer fixer you need to see is busy with someone else – free teas, coffees and biscuits will be provided
• One electrical item per person please
• Please bring your device charged (if relevant) and with its power lead/adaptor
• Please arrive at the party within the first two hours
• The fixing process is participatory; you will be encouraged to get involved and learn new skills – the social aspect of the event is as important as the fix itself
• Please bear in mind that Restart Parties are pop-up community events led by volunteers.  They are not free repair workshops.  So please do not expect the volunteers to have large supplies of spare parts such as smartphone screens.  They will do their best to fix your item, but it cannot be guaranteed
• For more details visit www.therestartproject.org

Community Jumble Sales

October will see three ‘Jumble Trails’ taking place in Colliers Wood (Merton), Berrylands (Kingston) and Benhilton (Sutton), with residents in these areas encouraged to clear out their cupboards and set up stall in their front gardens.  As the saying goes, ‘one man’s junk is another man’s treasure’.

A Jumble Trail is like a car boot sale but on your street.  Communities coordinate via www.jumbletrail.com to set up stalls in their front gardens to sell bric-a-brac, toys, vintage clothes, cakes or whatever.  The aim is to encourage reuse and recycling at a grassroots level and to enhance community spirit.

If you live within the catchment area of one of the Jumble Trails, you can take part and set up a stall for free.  Just contact you local Jumble Trail Champion via the weblinks below.  But even if you live outside the catchment areas, you can still get involved and support the events by popping along on the day and seeking out a bargain or two.

Jumble Trails are taking place in the following locations (also follow the link to see if you live within one of the catchment areas):

• Benhilton (Sutton) – Saturday 1 October (http://www.jumbletrail.com/event/Benhilton / https://www.facebook.com/events/1344809978882050/)
• Berrylands (Kingston) – Sunday 2 October (http://www.jumbletrail.com/event/KT5 / https://www.facebook.com/events/639330899558448/)
• Colliers Wood (Merton) – Sunday 9 October (http://www.jumbletrail.com/event/ColliersWood / https://www.facebook.com/events/103761770073613/

Sewing workshops

Last but certainly not least, a series of ‘Love Your Clothes’ sewing workshops will be run by the charismatic Miss Libby Rose (www.misslibbyrose.com) from her wonderfully retro, and delightfully pink, Citroen H Van.

Libby will be parking up her pink van in high profile locations during October and providing 90-minute workshops – a morning session (11am-12.30pm) on ‘Alterations & Repairs’ and an afternoon session (1pm-2.30pm) on ‘Re-styling and Customisation’.

So have a dig around at the back of your wardrobes and make a note in your diary to pay a visit to Miss Libby Rose, where your clothes will be transformed and you will learn some new skills.  No booking necessary.

The Love Your Clothes workshops will take place in the following locations:

• Wimbledon Piazza: Tuesday 11 October (11am-12.30pm and 1pm-2.30pm)

• Kingston’s Ancient Market Place: Thursday 13 October (11am-12.30pm and 1pm-2.30pm)

• North End, Croydon: Sunday 16 October  (11am-12.30pm and 1pm-2.30pm)

• Sutton High Street: Saturday 22 October  (11am-12.30pm and 1pm-2.30pm)

Ends.

Notes for Editors

The South London Waste Partnership is made up of the four London boroughs of Croydon, Kingston, Merton and Sutton.

The four councils have been working in partnership since 2003 to deliver innovative, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable solutions that tackle the challenging issue of what to do with all the waste that is generated by local households and businesses.