Recycle, re-use, recreate...and play

A play resource centre is ensuring less waste goes into landfill

Scrapstore workers Tracey Thomas (left) and Annabel Pir sort out donated waste items. Top right, Scrapstore volunteer Pauline Stannard helps load up the Scrapstore van.

Whether it's old shoe boxes, wrapping paper, fabric, string, ribbons or tiles, creative play charity Scrapstore can make good use of unwanted items.
Instead of throwing waste items out in the rubbish, Hull businesses are being urged to get in touch with Scrapstore to have them collected free of charge.
The collections are taken in the Scrapstore van for storage in an old school hall in Woodcock Street, west Hull, where they are sorted and then recycled for use in art and play sessions across the city.
"The scheme is great for the environment because we collect what would otherwise be buried in the ground as landfill," says Scrapstore development manager Annabel Pir.
"We can collect from any business or community organisation – anything from a corner shop to large firms – and we will try to reuse the items they would otherwise throw away."

Community resource

There are now 520 members of Scrapstore who use the service on a regular basis.
The members, who pay a small fee from as little as £6 a year, include parents, students, playgroups, out of school clubs, churches, scouts and brownies, community centres, nurseries and crèches.
Membership entitles them to visit the Scrapstore warehouse and buy either a box, basket or trolley of goods (for £4, £6 and £8 respectively) which they can then take away for their own use.
Meanwhile, art workers at Scrapstore use the materials for creative art workshops in schools to teach children about re-using waste and caring for the environment.
Scrapstore play workers also hold outdoor community play sessions on streets across the city, taking recycled materials with them, to give local children and young people the chance to learn, play and express themselves through art.
"Hull has been set tough targets by the government to reduce the amount of waste we send to landfill," says Cllr Dave Woods, who has responsibility for the environment in the city.
"Scrapstore is ensuring more waste is re-used and I encourage all local businesses to make the most of the collection service."

info

If you'd like your business waste collected by Scrapstore, or to become a member, call 328750.