The Skip

A couple of weeks ago, in preparation of converting the two floors above my old Colbert Smith Estate Agents office in Wincanton, I ordered a skip to clear many old, unwanted items. My brother-in-law, Nic Firth, the Senior Partner at Colbert Smith Estate Agents was also keen to have a good clear out.

We all found the experience fascinating. I feel many lessons can be learnt by the authorities from our experience. As the skip story developed we were amazed by the flow-through of goods.

I half filled the skip on day one; the next morning the skip was still half full but lots of things had gone, including old stacking chairs, a comfy chair and many other bits and pieces. However many more items had arrived overnight. Someone had cheekily put about ten plastic stacking baskets in. These did not last in the skip as someone had them before the next morning, together with a pressure tank for a domestic hot water system and a mirror.

I proceeded to fill the skip. As I was unloading three old radiators into it a chap came up to me and asked if he could have them for his mate (Harry I think). I said "Of course, no problem", after all I was disposing of them; he took them on later that day.

I put an old stainless steel sink in the skip which was gone within another 24 hours as had another mirror, but the frame was left behind.

I called the skip company and asked them to collect the skip but by the next day the level was lower again so I did my helpful civic duty and cleared an area of rubbish behind Boots the Chemist that had been there for about 20 years, which filled the skip again and tidied up an eyesore in the centre of the town.

There must be lessons that can be learnt from this experience: one person's unwanted items are of value to someone else, but under our current system, apart from recyclable materials all this "stuff" would have ended up in landfill and landfill tax paid on it. As it was I estimate the skip company only took about half of what had been "skipped", the remainder taken and put to good use by people.

Given these facts should the council not look at recycling facilities where the public can leave unwanted items for others to take them for free? This seems a win, win, win situation to me. One person disposes an unwanted item, another acquires something they can use, giving it a second life and we don't have to pay to put it in landfill at the public's expense.

I am sure some bureaucrat will try and find a silly reason like health and safety why this could not be done but that would be a shame as I can see only benefits to society from the skip experience.

I will bring this to the attention of my friend and colleague Derek Yeomans, the Conservative District Councillor for Burrowhill and Conservative County Councillor for Langport. Derek has a keen interest in recycling and waste and is chairman of the Somerset Waste Partnership.

Rubbish

Comments

Penny Ashton
Posts: 1

The Skip
Reply #1 on : Thu November 29, 2012, 13:21:16

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I enjoyed reading Cllr Colbert's article both here and in the Western Gazette, and am pleased to find that he found recycling such an enjoyable experience. In response to his comment: "Given these facts should the council not look at recycling facilities where the public can leave unwanted items for others to take them for free? This seems a win, win, win situation to me. One person disposes an unwanted item, another acquires something they can use, giving it a second life and we don't have to pay to put it in landfill at the public's expense." he may be glad to learn that the council does not need to provide this facility as it already exists in the form of http://www.uk.freecycle.org/ where it is free to join a group, free to advertise and the people who can use your unwanted items will collect them from you so that you don't even need to take them to the central point.

I wish Cllr Colbert happy Freecycling in future.

rentawitch
Posts: 1

Yep, Freecycle and Freegle
Reply #2 on : Thu November 29, 2012, 16:02:29

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Are an invaluable resource!
Since moving to town with no furniture, I have received a double mattress, a bathroom light, a bathroom cabinet, an armchair, a nest of tables, two kitchen stools, two sofas, three sleeping bags and a fridge/freezer. I have given away a music centre, a tv, a dvd player, a video player, a nest of tables, a pine table and chairs, a top hat and many packing boxes.

If you are in need, people will help and if you have things you no longer need, you can help people! :)

Graham Wincanton Freecycle.
Posts: 1

Wincanton Freecycle Group.
Reply #3 on : Sun December 02, 2012, 09:49:31

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Hello, I am the group owner of Wincanton Freecycle group. The group`s name is Wincanton-Bruton-Castle Cary Freecycle as this group covers these areas.

As rentawitch said you can get rid of your no longer needed items to other who could make use of them. OR if you are looking for something you can post a message asking if anyone is wanting to get rid of such item/s

All the details can be found on http://www.freecycle.org/

You can join the Wincanton group here http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WincantonBrutonCastleCaryFreecycle/

There are freecycle groups all over the UK and all over the world.

Freecycle started who a person wanted to get rid of items but did not want to skip them so started a Yahoo group offering items. The idea soon took off and he soon started more groups if different locations.

Now there are 5079 groups with around 9.2 million members.

I hope this will help these who wish to get rid of useable items without skipping them.

Graham
Wincanton Freecycle.

billie
Posts: 1

recycle
Reply #4 on : Tue December 04, 2012, 22:38:29

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When on holiday in New Zealand I noted one day the streets full of furniture and other household goods, people passing by stopped and helped themselves to these items.When I asked what was happening my hotel manager said one day a month they put all unwanted household good and furniture onto the street and anyone could take it,any items left at the end of that day would be cleared by the council the next day and either sold or recycled or if combustable would be used as fuel for a power station, now why dont we do this?

Victor Meldrew
Posts: 1

Re: The Skip
Reply #5 on : Thu December 06, 2012, 13:22:49

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In answer to Billie`s question, probally because nobody is willing to `think outside of the box`!

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