space and time :: help when you need it

Stuff...

What do we do with the things you don't want to keep? Here are some ideas.

Selling

In the first instance I would look at anything of potential value, and would usually arrange for an auction house to come for a valuation. Space and Time can arrange to be in when the valuer calls.

Specialist markets may be interested in old collections/retro clothing/certain objects (e.g. old radios). Again, I can organise to take the items or be in when they call.

Clothes: Trouvé will buy good quality women's clothes from the 60s onward, the funkier the better.

General household: If you have lots of items, the auction house Ramsay Cornish in Leith takes most household objects. Bits and Bobs is a creative reuse centre, based in Broomhouse, that sells surplus materials from business and households that can be resold as Art and craft materials. Many schools, nurseries and artists use the service and go on to make educational and stunning pieces of work with the materials available.

Electrical, cameras, sports equipment: can all be sold at Cash Convertors and similar shops such as Cash Generator. Equipment has to be in good condition and it is better if you have instructions too.

Mobile phones: everyone seems to have an old mobile - but do you know you can get money for them? Use envirofone to find out how much your phone is worth, and help charity too.

Books, particularly recent academic books, can get a good price on Amazon or Abebooks.

Other places to sell include Ad Trader. It is free to advertise in here.

Recycling

I hate to throw things away, and prefer to sell, give to a charity or give to someone who would appreciate and use the object long before I would chuck in the bin. I think this makes it easier for the person getting rid of stuff too. For example, there is no market for old pans but someone in their first house tenancy who is struggling to buy basic household objects could be very glad of them.

Clothing that can't be sold can go to a charity shop. This includes worn shirts and odd socks that charities can sell on as 'rags' to the paper making industry. Charities also take ornaments and other odds and ends.

Books I would take to a specialised charity bookshop.

Old records, including 78s, that can't be sold would be taken to the Oxfam record shop.

Glass and paper can easily be recycled. The council uplifts (City of Edinburgh Council) will recycle according to categories (wood, metal etc) and pass on to charity (Edinburgh Furniture Initiative - see below) where appropriate.

Other odd objects that have no real value can be passed on to someone who wants them via the excellent Freecycle website.

The Edinburgh Furniture Initiative (EFI) provides household goods to people who are starting their own households. They work with the Council Centres and take working items such as kettles and lamps as well as furniture carpets curtains, bed linen etc. They will also uplift. They can be contacted on 0131 553 3444.

A similar organisation here in Edinburgh is Fresh Start who welcomes all household items such as dishes, clothes pegs, pots and pans. This is especially useful if you are clearing a house. 0131 476 7741.

The brilliant charity Tools for Self Reliance refurbish and send tools, manual sewing machines and bicycle repair tools to Africa.

The Bike Station is at Causewayside in Edinburgh, and recycles and reuses all bikes and bike parts.

Local Youth Groups and Community Centres are usually delighted to have sports equipment, musical instruments and games passed on to them.

I recently gave a school drama department several bags of old materials; they use them for backdrops, drapes and costumes.

Your local church usually collects stamps, and if they don't do it the Salvation Army definitely does. They use the stamps to buy Freeplay radios to be used in Africa in educational programmes. Last year they donated 400 radios to this worthwhile cause.

Local Council Recycling Centres take most things, and some recycle books, CDs and DVDs; the council can arrange to uplift from your house, but certainly Edinburgh Council doesn't recycle these items, they all get chucked in together.

On a lighter note, I have given good quality knitting wool to a friend, Ysolda. Contact me if you have any wool you would like to pass on.

The yellow hangers you get from Johnsons Drycleaners can be given back to them.

Lastly, rather than getting a skip, why not employ a rubbish removal service such as Dirty Work Clearances in Edinburgh or Rapid Rubbish Removal in Glasgow. They do all the work for you.