Waste Less: Repair, Reuse and Recycle in Wealden
Recycling plays an important role in reducing waste, but it should not always be our first choice. The best way to reduce waste is to prevent it in the first place by buying only what we need, choosing reusable products, repairing items when they break and passing on things we no longer use.
Across Wealden there are many organisations helping residents repair, reuse, borrow and share items rather than throw them away. Explore the opportunities below and see how you can save money, reduce waste and support your local community.
Waste Hierarchy
Repair and Reuse
Repairing an item is often better than replacing it. It can save money, extend the life of valuable resources and reduce waste.
Repair Café Forest Row
The Forest Row Repair Café aims to help reduce waste by encouraging a repair culture in our community. A repair can save time, money and waste.
Repair Café Heathfield and Horam
Do you have a lamp which no longer works? Is your toaster broken? Or you chair comes apart every time you try to sit on it? Don’t toss it! You can repair it at the Repair Café.
Repair Café Heathfield and Horam
Crowborough Repair Café
The Repair Café is part of Green Transition Crowborough, a community organisation that promotes local action in the Crowborough area to address climate change and encourage sustainability. By visiting the Repair Café you can save money, extend the life of your item and ultimately save things going to landfill.
Uckfield Repair Café
They fix portable items from appliances to bicycles, computers to clothing. Plus a café with fab cake!
REPAIR CAFE UCKFIELD - Sussex Support Service
Mayfacs SHED
The Shed is a fantastic community opportunity for anyone to come along, meet some friendly people, get involved in Shed projects and development, create items in the workshops, work on your own personal projects and repairs – and have lots of cups of tea and chat!!
Donate and Pass Things On
Items you no longer need may still be useful to someone else. Donating, selling or passing items on keeps them in use for longer and helps local residents.
Baby Bank
Baby banks collect pre-loved baby and children's clothes, equipment and toys to pass them on to families in our community who need a little help.
If you can't afford the basics for your child and aren't sure where to turn, they're here to help. You can contact them confidentially by emailing nicky@babybankbeyond.org or texting 07355 445 502
Grown out of it
Grown Out of It is a free online service which gives you access to affordable second-hand school uniform and everyday items.
They have over 30 item categories and 100’s of quality items listed, plus the option to sign up and sell your own child’s school uniform. Grown out of it also offers a donation option, which allows you to donate part or all your sale proceeds directly to your School or Parent Teacher Association.
Second Hand School Uniform Buy & Sell - Grown Out Of It
Borrow Instead of Buy
Some items are only used occasionally. Borrowing rather than buying can save money, reduce clutter and prevent unnecessary purchases.
Hastings Library of Things
Hastings Library of Things is a community run lending Library where you borrow things, use them and return them to be used again.
Hastings Library of Things – Umbrella Sussex
Do you know of another repair, reuse or sharing initiative in Wealden?
We are keen to promote organisations that help residents reduce waste. Let us know about local schemes that support repair, reuse, borrowing or sharing.