Borders residents can help the environment by donating their old electricals for reuse

Newly expanded collection service of electrical items aims to collect around 3,000 quality household electricals for local residents to reuse at low cost

Householders and local businesses across the Southern Borders will be able to more easily declutter their unwanted electricals with immediate effect.  Home Basics are expanding their collection service of working electrical items to local residents in an effort to help protect the environment together.

Home Basics is aiming to collect an additional 3,000 of these appliances which will then be tested and made available for resale to local residents for a fraction of the cost of buying them new. The project will help to reduce electrical waste. Homes Basics hopes that a further 1,500 households will be helped, saving an estimated £125,000 compared to buying new electricals and preventing 40 tonnes of CO2 being released to the environment.

Recent research, by the not for profit Material Focus, has found that UK householders are hoarding 527 million small electrical items, an average of nearly 20 per household.  And the problem is set to get worse as waste electricals are one of the fastest growing waste streams in the world and the UK. Instead, the majority of electricals can either be reused or the materials contained in them recycled by being turned into anything from life-saving equipment to children’s playgrounds.

In a concerted effort to tackle this growing challenge, Material Focus have funded Home Basics to significantly expand their collection scheme as part of the Recycle Your Electricals Campaign.  The project provides two safety testing jobs in Hawick and numerous volunteer opportunities across both stores for locals to up skill or prepare for reemployment.  The scheme will collect kitchen appliances, household appliances, cookers, fridges, freezers, televisions and more on a daily basis, Monday to Friday.  PC’s and laptops will also be accepted and passed on to local organisations working with Home Basics in support of this campaign. In addition to the reuse scheme, non-reusable electrical waste will be fully recycled via Scottish Borders Council Household Recycling Centres.  Income generated from items donated to Home Basics will enable this project to become self sufficient.

Home Basics Business Manager Dennis Fisher states, “In partnership with Scottish Borders Council, we are keen to support the Recycle Your Electricals campaign and make it easier for local residents to declutter their electricals.  By donating to their local household reuse charity local people can do their bit to minimise waste and prevent carbon emissions whilst making quality items available to others at a low cost.  The Home Basics reuse model has already successfully prevented electrical items and many household items going to waste for over 20 years across the Scottish Borders.  The funding received from Material Focus helps build capacity to expand our reach in local communities to prevent more electrical waste and raise awareness.   Inspiring a reuse society among all ages across the Scottish Borders whilst still meeting the needs of our beneficiaries is a primary objective of Home Basics.  We are grateful to our donors and customers for working together to combat issues of climate change and waste.   Together we can challenge behaviours in local communities to choose to reuse quality items available prior to sourcing new.  We encourage everyone with non useable electrical items in their home to come forward and support this campaign.  ”

Scott Butler, Executive Director of Material Focus said: “This project is vital to ensuring that we make good use of our old electricals. Whether they are re-used or recycled – these items contain valuable materials that will otherwise be lost forever.  Our research has shown that in the UK we are hoarding over 527 million small electrical items, an average of 20 per household, which is why last year we launched the Recycle Your Electricals campaign.  We are delighted to be working with Home Basics who are one of a number of new reuse projects that we are funding in the UK.  So whether you are at home or work, please hunt out your old electricals and donate them to benefit your community.”

• Home Basics Walkerburn and Hawick are delighted to accept working electrical items less than 10 years old.
• Collection of reuseable electricals can be arranged via the sales team in Home Basics Hawick and Walkerburn store, or items can be donated to the stores during open hours of 10am to 3.45pm on weekdays. Large items in working order can be collected for free.  Home Basics are also working with local partners in Peebles and Hawick to maximise their capacity to accept more electrical waste.  Further information is available via the Home Basics website.
• Home Basics work with Scottish Borders Council to encourage local residents to recycle their old electricals via their nearest household waste recycling centres.
• The scheme will ensure that all items are safe, with Home Basics collecting, cleaning and testing reusable equipment before making it available in their shops for locals to purchase.
• Their collection scheme will collaborate with other local organisations.  Home Basics provide peace of mind that all precautionary measures to protect donors and customers are being followed during the pandemic.

For further information on how to donate your electricals for reuse please contact the sales team in our Walkerburn and Hawick stores.   Non useable items should be taken for recycling to your local recycling centres.