Pass It On

Often, the items we no longer want or need can be passed on to someone else and have a continuing useful life instead of becoming waste.

The Waste Partnership for Buckinghamshire works with residents and the voluntary sector to encourage the re-use of items and reduce the amount of waste we create. Good quality clothes, furniture, household goods, books and recorded music are among the things that have re-use value to other people.

For instance, approximately 1,000 tonnes of 'bulky waste' currently go to waste every year. This is the equivalent of 10 million items, 3 million of which could be easily re-used; more could be repaired. Re-using any item saves the energy and resources associated with manufacturing a new one, having an enormous positive impact on reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

Re-use in action in Bucks

This video released by the national charity WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) highlights the innovative partnership working between the Bucks County Council, FCC Environment and South Bucks Hospice at our household recycling centre re-use shops.  

What is bulky waste?

Bulky waste is waste that is too big to be collected with your normal rubbish collection. It includes bikes, furniture (sofas wardrobes, tables, chairs), appliances (refrigerators, ovens and TVs) and plumbing fixtures (bathtubs, sinks). The majority of the bulky waste items that are suitable for reuse fall into the furniture category.

Unwanted electrical and electronic goods such as fridge freezers, TVs, curling irons, kitchen appliances etc can be recycled and contain really valuable raw materials. For example, one iron contains enough steel to produce 13 steel cans.

Items that are still in working order can be reused through the organisations listed below. The Royal Mail have a recycling campaign called ‘Simply Drop’ for very small electricals such as cameras, mobile phones and MP3 players, find out more at Simply Drop.

For unusable items, wooden furniture and all household waste electrical items can be recycled at your local Household Waste Recycling Centre. Note that Buckinghamshire County Council manage a permit scheme for residents wishing to deposit waste using mini buses, vans, pick ups, large trailers or on foot.

What should I do with my bulky waste item?

Depending on your type of item, there are many options of what to do with your bulky waste item. Below are some suggestions of what you can do to keep it out of landfill.

• Ask friends and family if they have use for it first
• Sell it using your local newspaper or online market place
• Contact a local re-use organisation (please see list below)
• Take it to be re-used at your local Household waste and recycling centre. From here it will be taken to either the Aston Clinton or High Heavens Re-Use Shops

Or you could try advertising on the web using the following sites:-

Places to contact to re-use your bulky waste items in Buckinghamshire:

As part of an innovative new approach, a local charity, South Bucks Hospice, has helped to transform the re-use service at the County Council’s household recycling centres.  

The changes mean that unwanted items such as push bikes, clothes and furniture that are disposed of at the recycling centre will now be sold at one of two new re-use shops at Aston Clinton and High Heavens household recycling centres.  The funds raised from the selling of these items will support the local charity to build and run a new hospice.

FCC Environment took over the management and operation of the county’s recycling centres in April 2012, and they work closely with South Bucks Hospice and the Council to enable this radical new approach. 

Residents can take things like push bikes, clothing, electrical items, furniture, CDs and DVDs, tools, gardening equipment, clothing to be sold and reused at the recycling centres.

Items donated at the other eight recycling centres will be transported to the nearest recycling centre re-use shop in Buckinghamshire.

Re-use shops are open during site opening hours which are:

• 1 April to 30 September, 9am - 6pm
• 1 October to 31 March, 9am - 4pm

They open seven days a week, except for 25 December, 26 December and 1 January.

Re-use shops:
High Heavens Shop, Clay Lane, Booker SL7 3DJ: 01494 535841
Aston Clinton Shop, College Road North, HP22 5EZ: 01296 632766

Bulky waste collections

Alternatively you can contact your district council and ask about their bulky waste collections. Please be aware that any bulky waste collected by the district council will not be re-used. Please click on your district council logo for more information.