ReUse centre opens in Derry to aid waste diversion
Northern Ireland’s Department of the Environment (DOE), the Department for Social Development (DSD) and local social enterprise The Resource Centre, yesterday (20 August) opened a new ‘ReUse centre’ in Pennyburn, Derry, which they hope will benefit the environment and the local community.
The facility, which received £484,000 in government funding (comprising a £273,000 ‘Rethink Waste‘ capital grant from the DOE and £211,000 from the DSD), will take in and repair various household goods such as furniture, toys, white goods, bikes and garden equipment, which will then be resold or given to those in need in the local area. It is hoped the centre will divert around 500 tonnes of waste from landfill per year.
The project will also train up to 20 young people in skills such as joinery, furniture repair and sales, as well as creating some permanent employment.
Environment Minister Mark Durkan commented on the facility, saying: “The ReUse Centre will deliver three major benefits to Derry, improving the environment, improving the local economy and improving the employment opportunities for young people.
“This facility will keep items out of landfill, assisting Derry’s drive to be a sustainable city. The resultant diversion of 500 tonnes of waste per year from landfill will help recycling and climate change targets.”
‘Good value products for the community’
Councillor Martin Reilly, Derry City Council Mayor, said that the funding had led to the refurbishment of a garage into a workshop, training room and sales area, as well as securing three full time employment contracts for two years for a manager and two instructors.
“I am delighted that Derry City Council and local enterprise The Resource Centre have worked together to deliver this project which encourages the reuse and recycling of household items normally sent as waste to landfill sites, this can only be seen as a positive step towards protecting our natural environment”, he said.
It is hoped the reuse centre will save the council around £50,000 per year in landfill cost savings, enabling it to invest the money in ‘more worthwhile activities… rather than burying it in the ground’.
Durkan concluded: “The refurbishment of items provides novel opportunities and skills to help our young people find jobs. What I and DOE are about is a better environment and a stronger economy and this will help towards that goal.”
The level of household waste sent to recycling, reuse or composting in Derry in 2011-12 was 28.8 per cent. Each resident produced an average of 318.2 kilogrammes of residual waste in this time period, placing the local authority 183rd out of 203 UK councils. Derry City Council stated that it believes the ReUse centre will help it reach its 2020 target of recycling 50 per cent of its household waste.
Read more about recycling in Derry.
