Life cycle….paint, computers, lights, dishwashers…

Ireland and Dublin, in particular, is home to a number of community reuse and waste prevention initiatives aimed at recovering and reusing valuable resources that have been acquired by customers to serve a need or first life use. When that first life use is served many offices, household or leisure products can be reused and enjoyed by our follow consumers!

Reuse is the practice of using an item more than once, extending its useful life. Often reuse involves a change of ownership; reuse can also involve “re-purposing,” or giving an item a second life through a function other than its original purpose. When we think about it, reuse is one of the oldest forms of waste management and was practiced by previous generations. I remember as a child collecting and returning empty glass soft drink bottles to the shops in order to claim the deposit. Lots of people engaged in reuse or recycle long before waste became a business and disposal the norm

Disposable product culture

In the 20th century manufacturing, marketing and advertising practices helped drive a disposable product culture. Many products including cars, or electrical and electronic appliances now build-in technical, design and perceived obsolescence. After a year they lose the latest and greatest tag.

Concerns about the environmental, economic and social sustainability of continually manufacturing new stuff,  has promoted a resurgence in reuse and re-purposing everyday items. Some citizens and nations have embraced this resurgence while others pay lip service to reuse.

It has to be said, reuse on its own is only one step, but once included as part of the strategy, reuse can play its part in helping keep our world green.

Reuse v Recycling

Reuse does not break items down to their component parts in order to reprocess them into new materials. While recycling reduces the amount of discarded items that are sent to landfills or incinerators, reuse extends the useful life of whole items and creates a local community loop that keeps the items out of the waste stream altogether. Reuse in all its forms needs to be considered with clothes and fabric a fine example of a successful income-generating reuse model which supports charitable projects across the world.

There are a number of organizations in Ireland that can help with reuse for items including clothes, furniture, paint, mattress, home appliances or IT equipment.

List of organizations involved with reuse in Dublin, Ireland

Busy Bees – Furniture

The Upcycle Movement – Various

Irish Charity Shops Association – Clothes, Toys, and Household Items

Sunflower Recycling – Paper, Cardboard, and Cans

Rediscovery Centre –  Bikes, Fashion, Furniture, and Paint

Recycle IT  – Computers, Tumble Dryers, and Small Electrical Appliances

Rehab Recycling – Washing Machines

ReCreate Ireland – Arts and Crafts

Reusing Dublin – Unused and Underused Spaces

Eco Mattress –  Bed Mattress