MoreThanWaste.com - 10 million re-usable items dumped annually (24/09/2007)

"The Government is looking at ways to reduce waste and the production of goods designed to have a short life from non-reusable materials is an environmental disaster"

Paul Smith, Chief Executive of the FRN

Over 10 million reusable items of furniture are sent to landfill by local authorities every year according to a recent study. This equates to almost 30,000 items every day revealed FRN at a Sheffield Conference last week.

In a speech to Sheffield Hallam University's Centre for Sustainable Consumption last Thursday, Paul Smith, Chief Executive of the FRN, appealed to local authorities to change their processes.

In tonnage terms over ½ million tonnes of ‘waste’ could be diverted from landfill.

Paul Smith explained:

“Some Councils have shown the way by introducing bulky re-use collections or setting up charity shops and workshops on civic amenity sites. We are calling upon all local authorities and their waste management partners to adopt this approach.

“Coupled with a proper implementation of the WEEE Directive we could save 17 million items for re-use each year”.

Environmental tax on poor quality furniture

One of the barriers to re-use is the increasing amount of furniture made from low quality materials that are not robust and therefore have a significantly shorter life, according to FRN.

Mr Smith called on the Government to introduce an environmental tax on these goods with the proceeds being used to support re-use and recycling. FRN would also like to see the extension of producer resonsibility to environmentally damaging goods with at least some of the revenue directed towards third sector re-use and recycling activities.

Paul Smith continued:

“The Government is looking at ways to reduce waste and the production of goods designed to have a short life from non-reusable materials is an environmental disaster.”

FRN

The Furniture Re-use Network (FRN) was formed in 1989 and is the UK-wide co-ordinating body for over 400 furniture, appliance and IT re-use organisations. The FRN promotes the re-use of unwanted furniture and other items for the alleviation of hardship, distress and poverty. FRN represents and co-ordinates the development of its members and works at a national level to increase the supply of goods to organisations and to ensure that a greater number of low income households benefit from their activities.

Further information

For further information see the Furniture Re-use Network’s website.


	10 million re-usable items dumped annually (24/09/2007) "The Government is looking at ways to reduce waste and the production of goods designed to have a short life from non-reusable materials is an environmental disaster" Paul Smith, Chief Executive of the FRN Over 10 million reusable items of furniture are sent to landfill by local authorities every year according to a recent study. This equates to almost 30,000 items every day revealed FRN at a Sheffield Conference last week. In a speech to Sheffield Hallam University's Centre for Sustainable Consumption last Thursday, Paul Smith, Chief Executive of the FRN, appealed to local authorities to change their processes. In tonnage terms over ½ million tonnes of ‘waste’ could be diverted from landfill. Paul Smith explained: “Some Councils have shown the way by introducing bulky re-use collections or setting up charity shops and workshops on civic amenity sites. We are calling upon all local authorities and their waste management partners to adopt this approach. “Coupled with a proper implementation of the WEEE Directive we could save 17 million items for re-use each year”. Environmental tax on poor quality furniture One of the barriers to re-use is the increasing amount of furniture made from low quality materials that are not robust and therefore have a significantly shorter life, according to FRN. Mr Smith called on the Government to introduce an environmental tax on these goods with the proceeds being used to support re-use and recycling. FRN would also like to see the extension of producer resonsibility to environmentally damaging goods with at least some of the revenue directed towards third sector re-use and recycling activities. Paul Smith continued: “The Government is looking at ways to reduce waste and the production of goods designed to have a short life from non-reusable materials is an environmental disaster.” FRN The Furniture Re-use Network (FRN) was formed in 1989 and is the UK-wide co-ordinating body for over 400 furniture, appliance and IT re-use organisations. The FRN promotes the re-use of unwanted furniture and other items for the alleviation of hardship, distress and poverty. FRN represents and co-ordinates the development of its members and works at a national level to increase the supply of goods to organisations and to ensure that a greater number of low income households benefit from their activities. Further information For further information see the Furniture Re-use Network’s website.