Voluntary groups across Devon are playing a key role in the fight to reduce waste and now Recycle Devon has listed them all on a handy community map.
There are currently 118 community organisations listed, offering ways to reduce, reuse and repair for free or a small donation.
Whether you’re looking for your nearest Community Fridge, Library of Things, local Repair Cafe or Scrapstore, you will find it on the map.
Community Fridges (sometimes called Community Larders) are a way of saving surplus food from supermarkets going to waste. They are open to all, regardless of income, and offer a range of items for free, usually on a first come, first served basis. It’s always worth popping into to your nearest one the next time you’re passing to see what’s available.
A Library of Things (sometimes called Share Sheds) is a fantastic resource that works like a normal library, but offers a wide range of house, garden and leisure equipment such as tents, drills, toys, party supplies and much more! It’s ideal for those items you only need to use occasionally. Borrow, don’t buy!
You can turn broken into beautiful with the help of your nearest Repair Cafe! Skilled volunteers are on hand to mend household items such as broken electronics, electrical equipment, bicycles, jewellery and more. It’s a great way to pick up some new DIY skills and there is usually cake and coffee on offer too!
Scrapstores are community enterprises that collect off-cuts and surplus materials, usually from factories and businesses, for reuse in activities such as education, play and arts and crafts. Materials collected include paper, card, fabric, plastic parts, lids, tops, containers, acetate, tubes, rolls, reels, wool, foam, etc – anything you can think of!
These groups are all powered by volunteers and they’re always on the lookout for more help. You don’t need a specific skillset to volunteer, just your time and a willingness to pitch in! The rewards are numerous – you’ll meet new people, learn new skills, connect with your community, and so much more!
The experiences of volunteers such as Inge Page at Ashburton Community Fridge which reduces food waste by making surplus food freely available to all residents of the town, Angie, at Sidmouth Repair Cafe and the role of organisations such as SAVE Food Hub and how they work to benefit their communities can all be found through Recycle Devon’s website.
Councillor Ruth Williams, acting Chair of the Devon Authorities Strategic Waste Committee, said:
“It’s fantastic to see so many local resources available to support households in reducing, reusing and repairing across the County. The community map is a useful tool to show what’s available locally and it may also inspire people to set up new groups to benefit the community.”
Check out the Recycle Devon Community Map to find out what’s happening near you! If you’re part of a Community Fridge, Repair Café, Library of Things or Scrapstore in Devon and you’re not on the map, please contact Recycle Devon to be added.