Reuse

Reuse is higher up the waste management hierarchy than recycling.

Reuse generally results in a 'highest and best use' of resources than recycling (for example, reusing a wooden chair instead of recycling it as firewood).

Reuse also means that the embodied energy invested in materials (energy used to harvest/mine/transport/manufacture products) is not lost, which is significant in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing climate change.

Before you investigate where to send your item or material for recycling:

• can someone else use it?

Check with charities whether they are willing to accept unwanted items; your local school/ kindergarten may be able to accept a range of materials for use in arts and crafts

Unwanted materials from industrial sites may be useful to others - check the Waste Exchange

• can you sell it or give it away?

Freecycle Adelaide is a site which encourages the swapping/giving away of unwanted household goods. Even things you might not expect to be able to give away might find a home.

nextlife is a site similar to Freecycle which encourages South Australian workplaces to manage and redistribute surplus or unwanted workplace equipment and materials which would otherwise go to landfill.

There is no restriction on workplaces posting unwanted items/materials on Freecycle, nor on householders claiming unwanted items/materials from nextlife.

(Note: a Yahoo ID will be needed to post a message, but it is free to register)

If it definitely can't be reused, then try the Recycling Information Directory.

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