WLWA awarded funds to start reward scheme for reuse
A unique and innovative scheme to reward residents who use resources better, prevent waste and encourage the reuse of materials is set to launch in west London.
A pilot scheme in Brent and Richmond will offer around 370,000 residents aged 16 or over the opportunity to get a free reward card that will enable them to claim cash benefits for either donating quality items to be reused, or buying things that have been used before or have been made from unwanted materials or waste.
The initiative has been made possible following a successful funding bid by West London Waste Authority (WLWA) in partnership with the London Boroughs of Brent and Richmond upon Thames that secured £133,532 from Defra, the Government Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Defra allocated approximately half a million pounds in this round of grants, to 17 different projects across the country.
This is the first time that a scheme of this type will recognise and encourage positive environmental behaviour. The reward card scheme is scheduled to launch in April 2012 and, if the pilot is successful, is hoped to roll-out across all six boroughs in west London.
Commenting on the initiative, Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, Chair of WLWA said: “Recycling levels are already high in west London but it is vital that we build on this by improving reuse and waste prevention. There was a great deal of competition for this Defra funding and it is a tremendous achievement to have secured such a sizeable amount. The reward scheme we can now launch will break entirely new ground by offering a cash benefit to residents who act responsibly.”
The Reward scheme
Residents of Brent and Richmond will be able to join the scheme from April 2012. Once the scheme starts, residents of the two boroughs can collect reward tokens in return for choosing to buy pre-loved goods or products with reused or recycled content, as well as services to extend the life of products they already own. Ten tokens will be redeemed for a £5 voucher to be spent on products in a participating organisation or donated to a locally participating charity
Businesses and Charities
We are looking for business and charity partners for this scheme. Business and charity partners need to provide these services for residents of Brent or Richmond in order to be eligible to take part. If you sell or provide services falling under the scope of this scheme, we want to hear from you. There are terms and conditions if you want to be a partner in this scheme. Please make contact for more details.
WLWA are looking to work with organisations that provide the following types of products or services, which allow people to:
- Donate to reuse projects of good quality sellable furniture and electrical items
- Purchase items from charity shops and reuse projects
- Reuse items (either giving or accepting) items from Freegle and Ecomodo
- Purchase items from nearly new sales
- Purchase remade clothing
- Buy new or second hand washable reusable nappies
- Hire an item from a hire shop
- Purchase a repair service from a local retailer e.g. shoe repair or electrical equipment
- Get clothing altered to fit or repaired e.g. shortening or replacement zip
- Undertake relevant skills development e.g. sewing courses or upholstery
- Take part (i.e. giving or taking items for reuse) in a selected local reuse event such as a ‘swish’
- Purchase products that are made from post-consumer waste. Products could include jewellery from reclaimed metals or glass ware such as bowls that are made from reclaimed materials.
The final list of items will depend on the products and services available locally and the organisations wishing to take part.
Local Community Organisations
As residents can donate their £5 voucher to local organisations, we are looking to work with three organisations in each borough. The three organisations will be chosen by a panel of local residents and community leaders. Please make contact for more details.
Want to take part or find out more – contact us.