The Circular Economy – Sharing, Repairing and Recycling
The biggest part of any individual’s carbon footprint is their ‘stuff’ – clothes, gadgets, books, furniture, DVDs, etc – plus all the public goods bought on our behalf, the school and hospital equipment, council and civil service office equipment etc. We may not be able to do much about the public goods, but it is estimated that in the UK, most homes have one extra room just to accommodate this accumulation of things – and that room brings its own carbon footprint, of course.
'Stuff' is the single largest contributor to our energy consumption. Source: Renewables Without The Hot Air - David MacKay
Apart from the obvious charity shops, what can we do to avoid buying more new stuff? And how do we prolong the life of what we have? See below for:
- Sharing, Hiring and Buying Second-Hand
- Repairing
- Recycling
Please note that although we mention organisations and companies, others may be available and these are not personal recommendations unless stated.
1. Sharing, Hiring and Buying Second-hand
Bristol has the usual selection of give-away and second-hand sites – Freecycle, Gumtree, Streetbank. And Next Door is a social network that allows you to connect with your neighbours, swap information and possibly borrow items.
Our area has a fantastic range of charity shops on our various high streets. They take donations of all sorts and sell anything in good enough condition.
Bristol Waste have opened a Reuse Shop at Avonmouth Recycling Centre, which sells items which have been saved from the scrap heap at Avonmouth and St Phillips. The money raised by the shop goes back into Reuse at Bristol Waste Company, and a third of the profit goes to charity.
With regard to sharing or hiring specific categories of items, see below:
Tools
For tools, there is Brandon Hire. The closest branches are at St John’s Lane in Bedminster, St Phillips, and in Avonmouth. An alternative is HSS based in Avonmead. Ladder Hire and Tools Service is another, based in Henleaze
Bristol has the usual selection of give-away and second-hand sites – Freecycle, Gumtree, Streetbank. And Next Door is a social network that allows you to connect with your neighbours, swap information and possibly borrow items.
Our area has a fantastic range of charity shops on our various high streets. They take donations of all sorts and sell anything in good enough condition.
Bristol Waste have opened a Reuse Shop at Avonmouth Recycling Centre, which sells items which have been saved from the scrap heap at Avonmouth and St Phillips. The money raised by the shop goes back into Reuse at Bristol Waste Company, and a third of the profit goes to charity.
With regard to sharing or hiring specific categories of items, see below:
Tools
For tools, there is Brandon Hire. The closest branches are at St John’s Lane in Bedminster, St Phillips, and in Avonmouth. An alternative is HSS based in Avonmead. Ladder Hire and Tools Service is another, based in Henleaze
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Clothes
Although there has been much in the media about clothes sharing, hiring and swapping, there seems to be little activity in our area. That may be because of the very high quality of charity shops in West Bristol. Here’s one site, Swishing, that may develop. Here’s a guide to some of Bristol’s vintage clothing shops. |
Image by coachmetpassie from Pixabay
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Cars and Bikes
For car and bike sharing and hiring, and second-hand EVs, see our Better Transport page.
If you have an old bike you no longer need, consider giving it to the Bristol Bike Project or to Life Cycle UK which has a drop-off point any time at Horfield Prison and recycled bike sales there.
Food
Community fridges are taking off around the country – not food banks, but places to drop off any excess you have and pick up from others with no stigma of poverty. Bristol had its first trial last year but it’s unclear whether this will develop further. If you’re interested in setting one up in your area, here are the people to contact.
Cutlery, Crockery and Glasses
If you’re planning an event and need extra tableware, Avon Eventhire is one company. Blast Event Hire is another and Grape and Grind another. Waitrose also does glass hire.
For car and bike sharing and hiring, and second-hand EVs, see our Better Transport page.
If you have an old bike you no longer need, consider giving it to the Bristol Bike Project or to Life Cycle UK which has a drop-off point any time at Horfield Prison and recycled bike sales there.
Food
Community fridges are taking off around the country – not food banks, but places to drop off any excess you have and pick up from others with no stigma of poverty. Bristol had its first trial last year but it’s unclear whether this will develop further. If you’re interested in setting one up in your area, here are the people to contact.
Cutlery, Crockery and Glasses
If you’re planning an event and need extra tableware, Avon Eventhire is one company. Blast Event Hire is another and Grape and Grind another. Waitrose also does glass hire.
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Left-Over Paint
Everyone with a garage has a few pots of curdling paint somewhere at the back.. Community Repaint now has a Bristol branch and here are the contact details. The Sofa Project in Old Market is one of their drop off / pick up points. If you know of a community project or school that is in need of paint or other DIY materials, B&Q has a scheme that donates unsellable items. |
Image from Community Repaint
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Furniture, Carpets and Electrical Goods
You can find plenty of second-hand furniture, carpets and rugs on the peer sharing /secondhand websites listed at the top of this page and there are several antique and curio shops in West Bristol. Home and Garden is another online platform for second hand carpets and household goods. There are other useful second hand furniture stores on Gloucester Road including the Sofa Project, which also has electrical items, and also Another Time Around, Marie Curie, Compass Project and Emmaus Vintage. HappyTat is another. Avon Domestics has reconditioned home appliances, as does The Appliance Depot, an online company not based in Bristol.
Mobile phones, iPads, iPods
The components of IT equipment include precious resources so it is well worth buying second hand rather than accepting a new upgrade. There are several different options. Gumtree Bristol has many for sale and there are other online platforms such as this one or this.
Wood
If you need wood for a project, or have wood to get rid of, you can contact the Bristol Wood Recycling Project, a social enterprise based in St Phillips.
Plants and Seeds
Too many seedlings? There’s a Facebook group – Bristol Seedling, Seed and Plant Swap. Avon Organics meets monthly in central Bristol and everyone is encouraged to bring seeds to swap.
You can find plenty of second-hand furniture, carpets and rugs on the peer sharing /secondhand websites listed at the top of this page and there are several antique and curio shops in West Bristol. Home and Garden is another online platform for second hand carpets and household goods. There are other useful second hand furniture stores on Gloucester Road including the Sofa Project, which also has electrical items, and also Another Time Around, Marie Curie, Compass Project and Emmaus Vintage. HappyTat is another. Avon Domestics has reconditioned home appliances, as does The Appliance Depot, an online company not based in Bristol.
Mobile phones, iPads, iPods
The components of IT equipment include precious resources so it is well worth buying second hand rather than accepting a new upgrade. There are several different options. Gumtree Bristol has many for sale and there are other online platforms such as this one or this.
Wood
If you need wood for a project, or have wood to get rid of, you can contact the Bristol Wood Recycling Project, a social enterprise based in St Phillips.
Plants and Seeds
Too many seedlings? There’s a Facebook group – Bristol Seedling, Seed and Plant Swap. Avon Organics meets monthly in central Bristol and everyone is encouraged to bring seeds to swap.
2. Repairing – a new lease of life for your valuables
Repair Cafes are catching on across Europe, and Bristol now has a couple. You can take all sorts of goods along – electrical items, clothing, gadgets, small bits of furniture etc. The Horfield café is on the first Saturday of each month; Bedminster’s café is on the last Saturday of each month; and St Paul’s is on the 3rd Saturday. Some ask customers to make an appointment, and others just have a queue. There are no fixed charges but donations are requested.
If you have skills and would like to get involved, or would like to help set one up in your area, there’s advice here and a contact form.
Repair Cafes are catching on across Europe, and Bristol now has a couple. You can take all sorts of goods along – electrical items, clothing, gadgets, small bits of furniture etc. The Horfield café is on the first Saturday of each month; Bedminster’s café is on the last Saturday of each month; and St Paul’s is on the 3rd Saturday. Some ask customers to make an appointment, and others just have a queue. There are no fixed charges but donations are requested.
If you have skills and would like to get involved, or would like to help set one up in your area, there’s advice here and a contact form.
Image by Germans Aļeņins from Pixabay
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Shoes, Boots and Bags
The Clifton Cobbler in Princess Victoria St will repair shoes and boots. Timpson’s have branches in Clifton Down, at Queen's Road in Clifton and Henleaze Road. There are many reasons to support Timpson’s but the fact that they have stayed a family business and their employment of ex-offenders are certainly things to consider. Gloucester Road has Express Shoe Repairs and Instant Services in St Nicholas’s Market is another alternative |
Clothing Repairs and Alterations
Here and here are lists of small businesses that will do repairs and alterations for you. Victoria Dry Cleaners in central Bristol is another, as is Sew Much More, who also offer sewing lessons. For places on Gloucester Road try Direct Dry Cleaners, Brunel Tailoring or Daddy Alterations.
In terms of clothes maintenance, dry cleaning is a non-green option because of the PERC chemical that is linked to cancers and although ‘organic dry cleaning’ exists, it doesn’t appear that we have this on offer in Bristol.
Watches and Clocks
Timpson’s will sort out battery and strap issues but if there’s a mechanical problem, they will send the watch to their specialist centre. This appears to be the same for many local jewellers.
Computer and Laptop Repairs
Here, here and here are computer repair services that operate in Bristol – none come with personal experience and there are likely to be others online. BrunelTech is based in Clifton Village; Computer Repair is on Cotham Hill and Bristol Computer Repairs is on Gloucester Road.
IPads, Phones and IPods
Bristol IPad Repair will come to you to fix a phone or ipad screen, as will WeFix . ITechnician will find you a repair service in your area. Alternatively you can take your equipment to iSmash in Broadmead.
Home Appliance Repair
There are many home appliance repair services that cover the Bristol area. Horders and (recommended) Affordable Appliances & Repairs are based in Bristol. There is a (recommended) hoover repair shop in Henleaze.
Bike Repair Services
The Bristol Bike Project has a mobile repair service that will come to you, or you can take your bike in. Alternatively, you can borrow their tools and do it yourself…! Boing Bicycles and AD Cycle Repairs also have mobile services that will come to you and Boing has a weekend appointment service. Bristol Bike Shack will do repairs on site near Temple Meads. On the Gloucester Road you will find Gloucester Road Bikes (no. 70), Millards, Rollquick and The Bike Man.
Here and here are lists of small businesses that will do repairs and alterations for you. Victoria Dry Cleaners in central Bristol is another, as is Sew Much More, who also offer sewing lessons. For places on Gloucester Road try Direct Dry Cleaners, Brunel Tailoring or Daddy Alterations.
In terms of clothes maintenance, dry cleaning is a non-green option because of the PERC chemical that is linked to cancers and although ‘organic dry cleaning’ exists, it doesn’t appear that we have this on offer in Bristol.
Watches and Clocks
Timpson’s will sort out battery and strap issues but if there’s a mechanical problem, they will send the watch to their specialist centre. This appears to be the same for many local jewellers.
Computer and Laptop Repairs
Here, here and here are computer repair services that operate in Bristol – none come with personal experience and there are likely to be others online. BrunelTech is based in Clifton Village; Computer Repair is on Cotham Hill and Bristol Computer Repairs is on Gloucester Road.
IPads, Phones and IPods
Bristol IPad Repair will come to you to fix a phone or ipad screen, as will WeFix . ITechnician will find you a repair service in your area. Alternatively you can take your equipment to iSmash in Broadmead.
Home Appliance Repair
There are many home appliance repair services that cover the Bristol area. Horders and (recommended) Affordable Appliances & Repairs are based in Bristol. There is a (recommended) hoover repair shop in Henleaze.
Bike Repair Services
The Bristol Bike Project has a mobile repair service that will come to you, or you can take your bike in. Alternatively, you can borrow their tools and do it yourself…! Boing Bicycles and AD Cycle Repairs also have mobile services that will come to you and Boing has a weekend appointment service. Bristol Bike Shack will do repairs on site near Temple Meads. On the Gloucester Road you will find Gloucester Road Bikes (no. 70), Millards, Rollquick and The Bike Man.
3. Recycling
Computers, lap-tops, printers – anything electrical
Byteback are based in Bedminster and offer a complete and comprehensive IT and Waste Electrical and Electronic based equipment (WEEE) recycling service. They'll collect your items from you and their service is free if you have more than 10 items.
Ecogreen Recycling, Eco IT, Environmental Computer Recycling and Removals and Computer Repair in Bristol also provide similar services.
Here are Bristol City Council’s instructions on what to do with electrical items including alarm clocks, calculators, hair straighteners. Many charities will accept mobile phones and will recycle them – but remove personal data first. Some charities will send out bags for you to post the item.
Cosmetic Recycling
Good On You has a useful guide to recycling old cosmetics. They have some useful tips for recycling, but actually the best piece of advice they offer is to buy less make up, and to make sure the stuff you buy is cruelty-free, organic and fair trade. In their words, they recommend going for quality over quantity.
Textile recycling
Charity shops end up with a lot of unsaleable stuff but the good news is that most of it is collected by recycling companies such as Bristol Textile Recyclers who sort it and make the best use of it possible. It appears that schools and other organisations can make money by collecting old clothes and selling them on. Bristol City Council can only take wearable or usable clothing items in black boxes, not rags.
M & S Cribbs has clothes recycling bins and the member of staff was knowledgeable about the recycling project.
Other than that, chop them up and make them into rags for use around the home. Cut the j-cloth and paper wipe habit!
Soft Plastic recycling
Plastic film and thin packaging is a problem for our conventional recycling systems but several supermarkets are trialling collection of such waste to be returned to a company, Recycled Technologies, that will return it to the oil from which it is made.
We’re grateful to our volunteers who did the research below.
Computers, lap-tops, printers – anything electrical
Byteback are based in Bedminster and offer a complete and comprehensive IT and Waste Electrical and Electronic based equipment (WEEE) recycling service. They'll collect your items from you and their service is free if you have more than 10 items.
Ecogreen Recycling, Eco IT, Environmental Computer Recycling and Removals and Computer Repair in Bristol also provide similar services.
Here are Bristol City Council’s instructions on what to do with electrical items including alarm clocks, calculators, hair straighteners. Many charities will accept mobile phones and will recycle them – but remove personal data first. Some charities will send out bags for you to post the item.
Cosmetic Recycling
Good On You has a useful guide to recycling old cosmetics. They have some useful tips for recycling, but actually the best piece of advice they offer is to buy less make up, and to make sure the stuff you buy is cruelty-free, organic and fair trade. In their words, they recommend going for quality over quantity.
Textile recycling
Charity shops end up with a lot of unsaleable stuff but the good news is that most of it is collected by recycling companies such as Bristol Textile Recyclers who sort it and make the best use of it possible. It appears that schools and other organisations can make money by collecting old clothes and selling them on. Bristol City Council can only take wearable or usable clothing items in black boxes, not rags.
M & S Cribbs has clothes recycling bins and the member of staff was knowledgeable about the recycling project.
Other than that, chop them up and make them into rags for use around the home. Cut the j-cloth and paper wipe habit!
Soft Plastic recycling
Plastic film and thin packaging is a problem for our conventional recycling systems but several supermarkets are trialling collection of such waste to be returned to a company, Recycled Technologies, that will return it to the oil from which it is made.
We’re grateful to our volunteers who did the research below.
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Tescos – There are ten trial Tesco stores in the South West where shoppers can bring back their ‘soft’ plastic waste. These include:
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M&S - The M&S plastic take-back schemes enable customers to bring in soft plastic to be transformed into store fittings, furniture and playground equipment for schools. CCA volunteers found that the store would accept all suitable packaging, from any retailer, including rival supermarkets. Customers can drop a variety of plastic packaging in the new M&S recycling bins, including black ready meal trays, crisp packets, sauce sachets and certain cosmetics containers, all of which usually end up in landfill.
Cribbs M&S has two well located big recycling bins for all plastics and their coat hangers.
Morrisons Website - You can recycle your carrier bags, bread bags, cereal bags and many more at our carrier bag recycling points and battery recycling points. Morrisons is one of the signatories to WRAP’s UK Plastics PACT, an industry initiative which aims to transform the way businesses use plastic and prevent plastics polluting the environment.
Cribbs Morrisons wasn't as impressive in terms of staff knowledge and the location of a small recycling bin was out of site of the main entrance.
Aldi has made a number of pledges relating to plastic and packaging. So has Bedminster Aldi but it has no recycling bins at all because, as the manager explained, their site is too small. They send all their packaging from the store back to the distribution centre who then send it off for recycling.
ASDA's website states they are aiming at 100% recyclable packaging by 2025: ‘Zero Waste Asda operates a Zero Waste policy - this means we look to reduce, reuse, recycle, and redistribute as much waste as possible with an aim of no waste to landfill.’
However, Bedminter Asda has only recycling bins for plastic bags. They are trialling recycling black and other single use plastics in Whitchurch and Longwell Green branches.
Cribbs M&S has two well located big recycling bins for all plastics and their coat hangers.
Morrisons Website - You can recycle your carrier bags, bread bags, cereal bags and many more at our carrier bag recycling points and battery recycling points. Morrisons is one of the signatories to WRAP’s UK Plastics PACT, an industry initiative which aims to transform the way businesses use plastic and prevent plastics polluting the environment.
Cribbs Morrisons wasn't as impressive in terms of staff knowledge and the location of a small recycling bin was out of site of the main entrance.
Aldi has made a number of pledges relating to plastic and packaging. So has Bedminster Aldi but it has no recycling bins at all because, as the manager explained, their site is too small. They send all their packaging from the store back to the distribution centre who then send it off for recycling.
ASDA's website states they are aiming at 100% recyclable packaging by 2025: ‘Zero Waste Asda operates a Zero Waste policy - this means we look to reduce, reuse, recycle, and redistribute as much waste as possible with an aim of no waste to landfill.’
However, Bedminter Asda has only recycling bins for plastic bags. They are trialling recycling black and other single use plastics in Whitchurch and Longwell Green branches.
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