As many of us prepare to move out of student or private accommodation, we may find that we have a lot of items that have served their purpose for us or many that are still in an unused and perfect state. For me, and I suspect some others, it can seem like a very heartbreaking activity to just pour these down straight into the dumpster. One easy solution would be to make use of the numerous donation points around the UK.
Donation Points and Charity Shops
When I lived in halls, there would be a big red box from the British Heart Foundation towards the end of the year where you could easily drop off your items when you moved out. Although if you live off-campus you can either go to a local shop, post your items or make use of the free collection service which runs nationwide. The good thing about this is that you can donate anything from unwanted clothing to fridges or books as they also take items for research purposes as well as for the needy. Check out the full list of what you can and cannot donate here. Oxfam, Age UK, Salvation Army, Save the Children, Cancer Research UK, and Barnardo’s are also familiar names among many others which are listed online.
Recycle your electrics
A total of around 2 million tonnes of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment are discarded by UK households annually and the seriousness of the issue has been picked up by governments worldwide. Therefore, there are now dedicated electrical appliances recycling bins throughout London so do make sure to find the closest one to your location to play your part in reducing your negative impact on landfill production.
Buyback schemes
If you have any unwanted furniture or goods from IKEA, you’re in luck because in 2021 the company launched a trade-in programme. Apple and Currys PC are two big names that also run a similar initiative although I’m sure there will be many other brands that offer similar schemes. In general, you can get up to 50% of the item’s original value for credit for your next purchase, a gift card, or if your used item is not eligible for one of those they will help you recycle it for free.
