London Furniture Reuse Network

The London Furniture Reuse Network (London FRN) was established to improve the standards of the 17 furniture and appliance reuse projects which make up the network in London. The project strives to enable the sector to become sustainable and boosts the image of reuse in the various London communities. 

The network achieves this by:                            

• project support and co-ordination
• developing partnerships with local authorities and housing associations
• increasing public awareness   
• improving trainee & volunteer opportunities at projects

London FRN moves the sector towards a position where it is capable of performing a significant role in addressing the requirements of the London waste minimisation strategy.

For more info on what London FRN does please click here.

Funding for the Network

London FRN is funded by the Community Recycling and Economic Development (CRED) Programme, through the Big Lottery Fund’s Transforming Waste initiative.  Match funding has been secured through the Enhance programme, which is funded by the London Development Agency, LDA.

The funding period comes to an end in December 2007 and the project is looking for new sponsors.

A Simple Guide to Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE)

From July 1 a regulation comes into force which places the responsibility on producers of electrical and electronic equipment to recycle or reuse end of life appliances.

Arrangements will be made to ensure appliances which are being disposed of will not go to landfill but rather are recycled or reused. 

As a householder you can dispose of your old appliances in one of 4 ways:

1. contacting the council in the traditional way to arrange a bulky collection;
2. you can donate cookers, fridges and washing machines to a reuse charity;
3. you can ask the retailer of your replacement appliance to take it away for you free of charge.
4. you can take it to your local civic amenity site / reuse and recycling centre  

I. What do London CRN members need?

      1. Household Appliances   
         Cookers, fridges and dish washers, vacuum cleaners, tumble dryers, washing machines. Below is a list of London based organisations that accept these items:

• ReStore Community Projects - Haringey - 020 8493 0900
• Respond - Greenwich - 020 8316 1099
• OFFERS/exIT - Southwark - 020 7703 5222
• Furniture Aid South Thames (FAST) - Lambeth - 020 7793 7787
• Croydon Appliance Reuse Centre (Croydon ARC) - Croydon - 020 8662 8002
• Hounslow Furniture Project - Hounslow - 020 8744 0615
• Trinity Furniture Store - Uxbridge - 01895 256 655
• Trinity Homeless Projects - Hayes (Middlesex) - 020 8842 3684
• Emmaus - Greenwich - 020 8854 3426

      2. Computers 
         The following projects collect unwanted computers and IT equipment:

• Computer Aid International - 020 8361 5540
• OFFERS Ex-IT - 020 7703 5222
• In Kind Direct - 020 7860 5931/5971
• Community Technology - 020 733 3334
• New Leaf - 020 8944 6866
• Paper Round - 020 7620 3131

II. Items that our members do not handle

• Small WEEE
• gardening equipment
• sports equipment
• children's toys, spin dryers
• microwave ovens.
  
  These items should be taken to your local civic amenity site.
  
  Mobile phones can be donated through schemes such as Tesco Charity Collection and the RSPB Recycling Appeal.

Under the new legislation distributors of WEEE are obliged to take responsibility for their products. Most provide a Take-Back service collecting like-for-like appliances when new ones are delivered.