Contact:Alan Ali, on 07403 147311. Emailarman.ali@londonreuse.org.

NEWS

21 July 2014

ONE MILLION LONDONERS TARGETED BY RE-USE CAMPAIGN

• Promotional campaign to encourage re-use rather than ‘throw away'

• Five London boroughs targeted by information drive

• Phone hotline, leaflets, posters, online and social media marketing, liveried vehicles and borough magazines will support campaign

• Furniture and white goods will be diverted from landfill and incineration and re-used

• High quality, low cost goods to benefit low income families

Nearly one million Londoners are being targeted by a campaign aimed at taking unwanted household items, refurbishing them and giving them a new home. The London Re-use Network (LRN) will target five boroughs - Lambeth, Kensington & Chelsea, Hammersmith & Fulham, Wandsworth, and the City of London - with information aimed at boosting the amount of furniture and white goods donated for re-use, diverting good quality material away from landfill or incineration.

LRN uses high quality refurbished items to pass on to low income, recently housed families at low cost so that they can turn their new flat or house into a cosy, comfortable home. Re-use also helps the Network provide volunteering and training opportunities in retail, administration, and waste management, helping people gain the skills they need to get back into the job market. It extends the life of an item, dramatically reducing CO2emissions, while minimising the need to use up more raw materials. And it means donors can be sure that none of their items will be fly-tipped causing environmental damage and eyesores for others to clean up.

The campaign, supported by £55,000 from the capital's waste chiefs at the London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB) - channelled through WRAP, the national waste minimisation body - will feature leaflets, posters, online and social media marketing, as well as liveried vehicles and articles in borough magazines for residents.

Callers to a special hotline number - 020 3142 8506 - can arrange collection of unwanted household items from inside their own homes to prevent them getting damaged by the weather. Items which can be collected include beds, sofas, tables and chairs, washing machines, cookers, fridges, and bicycles. You can also drop items off at local charity-run re-use shops by checkingwww.londonreuse.orgto find the nearest one in their local area. And you can book a collection online on LRN's sister websitewww.londonreuse.com.

LRN Managing Director, Charles Craft, says:

"We want residents in these five boroughs to really get involved in the re-use revolution through this campaign. They won't only be doing something good for the environment in diverting good quality items away from landfill and incineration, but they'll be doing others a good turn too because the items they donate will provide volunteering and training opportunities in our charity partners' shops and our re-use centres. They'll also know that they'll be helping people less well off than they are make their surroundings more homely and comfortable.

"We've made it as easy as possible for them to donate through our telephone hotline, online, or by dropping items off at re-use shops run by our charity partners. There's no downside for them and there are huge benefits for them as well as others in their community."

ENDS (450 words)

Contact:Alan Ali, on 07403 147311. Emailarman.ali@londonreuse.org.

Notes to editors:

The London Re-use Networkis made up of re-use projects, including charities, that work together to collect, repair and sell unwanted furniture, appliances and household items, giving them new homes across London. In addition, London Re-use Network arranges and provides employment, skills development, training and volunteer opportunities.Website:www.londonreuse.org

The London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB), chaired by London Assembly Member Richard Tracey, works in conjunction with the Mayor of London and London Councils to improve waste management in the capital. For more information visit:www.lwarb.gov.uk

This project is funded through LWARB'sBorough Communications Support(BCS) programme, which is delivered by WRAP on behalf of LWARB. The BCS programme provides communications funding and advice to London boroughs to help improve recycling and re-use.

WRAPwas set up in 2000 to help recycling take off in the UK and to create a market for recycled materials:http://www.wrap.org.uk/