On Wednesday 11th March the Fraser Centre hosted it’s first Reuse Fair with community partner organisations. The event saw 82 individuals attending, who were able to benefit from the wide range of second hand items available from the Kit Stop, Lil CIC, the Library, the new music loan library, Carefree Kids and Recycling First. The Fraser Centre is grateful to ELCAN and the East Lothian Climate Hub for sponsoring this event.
The Kit Stop was one of those in attendance at the Reuse Fair. Kit Stop is a sports recycling programme run by Active Schools. This programme collects new/no longer used sports equipment and clothing and redistributes it back into our local communities. As well as reducing waste and encouraging a more sustainable East Lothian they have a core mission of making sports and leisure activities available to everyone that wants to take part by reducing the financial barriers that come with new kit and equipment. At the event the Kit Stop re-homed 50+ items from football boots, to swimming costumes and googles, to tracksuits, and hockey sticks!
1.75 tonnes of carbon saved by Fraser Centre reuse event
Local group Lil CIC were also in attendance and brought with them their Revolving Wardrobe from East Linton. The team is now working to bring the same idea to Tranent.
“We were delighted to attend the Reuse Fair in the Fraser Centre. Over the 2 hours we saved 71kgs of clothing from landfill. Items taken included kids clothes, ladieswear, menswear, sports kit and a wedding outfit!” said a spokesperson for the Fraser Centre.
Local residents are now being urged to have their say. A community survey is live at www.dolilthings.org, with paper copies available from the Fraser Centre and Tranent Library from Monday 6th April.
“Reusing clothing has a very real environmental benefit with 1kg of clothes reused saving up to 25kgs of CO2e (Carbon dioxide equivalent) emissions. And the cost savings can also be huge. It is estimated that clothing a child for it’s first 3 years of life can be up to £2,000!”
For more info about the next reuse fair visit thefrasercentre.com or contact alison@thefrasercentre.com
