Library of Things today unveils its plans for a new digital platform that connects Londoners with services to rent, repair, reuse or recycle small electricals instead of buying them brand new.

The project will go live on 23rd April with the hope that more Londoners will get behind its drive to tackle e-waste and change their own behaviours, by providing opportunities to recycle small electricals and offering them options beyond just buying new.

Library of Things is working in partnership with other leading sustainability organisations working on this project to further help locals rent, recycle or discard electricals, sustainably by providing Londoners with a range of options for accessing and re-using electricals.

This is one of 40 UK projects funded by Material Focus, the not for profit leading the Recycle Your Electricals campaign, who have provided £50,000 to support this project. Library of Things, are joining other projects around the country in making it easier for 10 million UK residents to repair, reuse or recycle their electricals. Library of Things aims to prevent 60 tonnes of small electrical waste ending up in landfill by encouraging 20,000 Londoners to try a more sustainable alternative to buying brand new electrical items in the next 12 months.

Library of Things makes it simple and convenient for residents to affordably rent electrical devices including power tools, sound systems, sewing machines and pressure washers, which are available for collection at 17 libraries, shopping centres and reuse hub locations located across London.

The new online digital platform will make the service more accessible to more Londoners and also provide information on services and organisations, created to help residents find more sustainable options than just buying new. The platform provides activities including learning DIY and electrical repair skills, earning money in exchange for refurbishing old tech, and finding drop off points locally to dispose of end-of-life electrical items.

Residents will also be made aware of how and where they can recycle their electricals through information on leaflets and on eye-catching posters featuring HypnoCat. Keep an eye out for HypnoCat, the Recycle Your Electricals mesmerising pink, fluffy mascot, who is on a mission to hypnotise local residents into recycling their electricals.

The aim of the nationwide Electricals Recycling Fund is to significantly reduce e-waste and its environmental impact by making it easier for consumers to recycle their electricals. The projects that have been funded by Material Focus include a variety of recycling methods, from kerbside collections to more drop-off points in schools, community centres, and bring banks. Overall there will be over 400 new collection points plus kerbside collections for 5.5 million UK residents.

Recycle Your Electricals research has shown that 80% of consumers believe recycling is a good thing, and many of us already recycle things like paper and plastic. Research has also shown that most of us have unwanted electricals we want to get rid of. On average there are at least 30 electricals hidden away in drawers in UK homes, a total of 880 million items across the UK – with a simple repair many could be donated or sold to people who could put them to good use. And yet 39% of people bin electricals, rather than recycle or reuse them leading to over 100,000 tonnes of electricals thrown away every year. The aim of these projects is to overcome these issues by making it easier to repair, donate or recycle electricals.

Rebecca Trevalyan, Library of Things co-founder said: “Given the UK is the second biggest producer of electronic waste in the world, it’s crucial that different circular organisations work together to make it as easy as possible for local people to rent, repair, share and resell items, instead of purchasing and wasting them.”

Ultimately we want to unlock hyperlocal movements around reuse, rental and repair – to see a widespread shift away from wasteful consumerism.”

“We are pleased to support the Library of Things to address the pressing issue of e-waste.” said Scott Butler, Executive Director of Material Focus. “By exploring new re-use and rental methods, we are taking a significant step towards creating a more sustainable future by making it easier for 10 million more people to reuse, repair and recycle their electricals.”