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Aberdeen Creative Waste Exchange |
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Friday, 29 June 2007 |
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The Creative Waste Exchange collects materials donated by local businesses and companies and after sorting and some preparation makes these materials available to the community as a good quality, low-cost resource.
Plan
The aim is to create a self sustaining social enterprise benefitting both the environment and the community of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire and to provide social work placements and creative development opportunities for volunteering. Thus reducing the amount of waste going to landfill and trying to inspire and excite people, including industry, in the creative and educational uses of reusable materials.
Progress
The Creative Waste Exchange is now in its second year and doing well. We have a number of different companies donating material to the Exchange. The material includes office furniture, stationery and arts and craft resources. Our community members range from schools and youth groups to churches and charities to universities and student associations to social enterprises and individuals.
We now offer workshops to primary schools which help gain or maintain their Eco Schools Status. Other workshops on offer are a 10 week upholstery class and a 6 week sewing class.
Review
The CWE has gone from strength to strength since it began in 2005, increasing both members and diversity of material. We have saved over 60 tonnes of material heading for the landfill and have saved community groups great amounts of money.
Aberdeen City Council has now placed the CWE on its preferred supplies list for Council organisations buying stationery and arts and craft material.
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