People are being urged to be creative and take a trip to a shop which re-uses unwanted items.Norfolk's Mini-Scrapbox in Reepham has been running since 1995, re-using leftovers from businesses - from unfashionable wallpaper to stationery, document wallets and lengths of fabric.
People are being urged to be creative and take a trip to a shop which re-uses unwanted items.
Norfolk's Mini-Scrapbox in Reepham has been running since 1995, re-using leftovers from businesses - from unfashionable wallpaper to stationery, document wallets and lengths of fabric.
The charity, run by volunteers and one of about 100 across the country, offers an alternative to landfill by giving people the chance to re-use surplus or unwanted materials.
Trustees are urging people to “think out of the box” and consider using scrap stores.
Jim Elliott, secretary, said: “People describe us a big Blue Peter warehouse, full of things that people don't want but that are perfectly reusable.
“Re-using is better than recycling because of the energy used to recycle and we're diverting the unwanted materials from landfill.”
He said they often get old card document wallets from the county council, which are no longer needed but the card can be used by schoolchildren or after-school clubs to make things. They also get a lot of foam off-cuts from industrial firms which can be used by children for painting.
“It's all just about thinking outside the box,” said Mr Elliott. “Over 80pc of the total waste stream is from businesses. It has to go somewhere and landfill space is running out. I don't know why the government has not backed scrap stores.”
Each re-use shop operates independently but they are all part of a loose fraternity.
The national “champion” scrap store is the one in Bristol which has around 1,300 member groups including after-school clubs, art groups, brownies, care homes, children's centres, day nurseries youth clubs.
To register with Mini-Scrapbox costs £7.50 a year and members then pay affordable amounts for the chosen materials. Registration is not required to donate items.
The store, in Wood Dalling Road, Reepham, is open to members on Wednesdays from 3am to 7pm and Saturdays from 10am to 2pm.
For more information, call Mr Elliott on 01603 873128 or go to www.geocities.com/mini_scrapbox
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