New white goods reuse project launched

A NEW white goods reuse project has been launched in Carmarthenshire.

Unwanted electrical appliances such as cookers, fridge-freezers and washing machines are repaired, cleaned and then sold under the ‘Gwyn i Wyrdd’ project.

Anyone living in Carmarthenshire with unwanted appliances can contact the team and they will pick them up for free.

As well as promoting repair, reuse and recycling, the scheme provides opportunities for training for people who have struggled to gain employment because of mental health, substance misuse, chronic health condition, or because of a learning or physical disability as part of the COASTAL project.

The electrical appliances are taken to the workshop in Cross Hands where they are repaired and tested to British Standard by qualified EEESafe registered domestic appliance technicians.

STEPs participants are involved in the preparation, cleaning and safe dismantling of the equipment but are not involved in the electrical repair.

The appliances, which are all PAT tested and come with a 90 day warranty, are being sold on mainly to housing association and council housing tenants.

Executive Board Member for Social Care Cllr Jane Tremlett said: “This is an excellent project which provides affordable and safely repaired white goods to local communities and at the same time offers training opportunities and the chance for people to learn new skills.

“The project has already received numerous donations from the public and there has been a lot of interest from local housing associations.”

The council’s waste and recycling section has been advising and helping COASTAL officers to set up the Gwyn i Wyrdd project to encourage the repair and reuse of electrical goods.

Electrical appliances that can be refurbished are also being taken from the waste recycling centre at Nantycaws in Carmarthen.

Executive Board Member for Technical Services Cllr Colin Evans said: “It is important that we try and reduce the amount of electrical waste in Carmarthenshire and repair and reuse as much as possible. It is such a waste to buy something new when it can easily be repaired.

“The project is a perfect example of reuse at its best; it provides a free collection for white goods that people no longer want, jobs and training for those that need it, and quality electrical appliances at reasonable prices.”

The COASTAL Project is part funded by the European Social Fund, as part of the 2007-2013 West Wales & The Valley Convergence Programme.

The Gwyn i Wyrdd project has also received a £5,000 grant from the Carmarthenshire Environment Partnership and the Wallich.

For more information or if you have an electrical appliance you no longer want visit www.gwyniwyrdd.co.uk or call 01269 845685. The project also has a Facebook page www.facebook.com/gwyniwyrdd