White goods reuse project proves popular

A white goods reuse project is proving popular since it launched in Carmarthenshire last October.

The Gwyn i Wyrdd project collects unwanted electrical appliances such as cookers, tumble dryers, dishwashers and washing machines for free. They are then repaired, cleaned and then sold.

In the first three months of this year the project, which is based in Cross Hands, has collected nearly 10 tonnes of donated appliances.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Executive Board Member for Social Care Cllr Jane Tremlett said: “It’s great to see that this project is obviously proving popular to households in the county. It not only provides affordable and safely repaired white goods it also offers the chance for people to learn new skills.”

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 where they are repaired and tested to EEESafe 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.

The council’s waste and recycling section has been advising and helping COASTAL officers in setting up the project and 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 Carmarthenshire’s COASTAL Project is part-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF), as part of the 2007-13 West Wales and the Valleys Convergence Programme through the Welsh Government.

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