North Ayrshire residents encouraged to swap, share or donate household items they don't need

Residents with items that they no longer need, but are in too good condition to throw in the bin, are being encouraged to take advantage of Pass It On Week.

The annual campaign, run by Zero Waste Scotland, encourages people to swap, share or donate items that are in working condition instead of sending them to landfill.

And to make it even easier for people to do just that, the Council’s Waste Awareness Team are getting involved in the ‘Big Electrical Amnesty’ and will be placing collection boxes across North Ayrshire for local residents to rid their house of unwanted small electricals.

The boxes will then be collected by local computer recycling and IT refurbishment company, CCL North, who will either re-use the items in whole or as parts.

So if you have small electrical items such as printers, laptops, hairdryers/straighteners, kettles and toasters that you’ve been meaning to get rid of, but haven’t had the chance to visit a recycling centre, now is the perfect opportunity.

Collection boxes will be available in all North Ayrshire Council libraries from Saturday 11 to Friday 19 March.

Russell McCutcheon, Head of Commercial Services, said: “This is a great way for people to put their unwanted items to good use.

“By re-using these items, it will help ensure that they don’t needlessly end up at landfill.

“We would encourage our residents to take advantage of this opportunity by giving their homes a ‘spring clean’ and recycling their unwanted items.”

The Council is also working in conjunction with charitable organisation, Centrestage Communities, providing ‘swap boxes’ in the Centrestage Communities Café.

The idea for the boxes is to allow people to visit the café and bring items such as books, DVDs and toys, and swap them for something else in the box.

The café will be visiting Fullerton High Flats on Thursday 16 March and Pennyburn Sports Centre on Friday 17 March.

Residents are also reminded that a whole host of items can be re-used or recycled at the Council’s Household Waste Recycling Centres. Items such as clothing, textiles, furniture, building materials, computer/electrical items, cooking/motor oil and wood – to name but a few.

For more information about what can be recycled and where, visit the Council’s website: