HOUSEHOLDERS in North Ayrshire could be missing a trick by spending precious time hauling large items to the tip or recycling centre, instead of calling to have items collected from their home to be sent off to be used by someone else.

The National Re-Use Phone Line, run by Zero Waste Scotland, is a completely free service that takes all of the hassle out of disposing of large items you no longer want to keep, and also ensures they don’t end up in landfill. Items picked up through the service are taken to local re-use shops to be used by someone else, so householders using the service are not only saving time and petrol money, they’re helping to save the planet too.

Iain Gulland, Director of Zero Waste Scotland, said: “There are huge benefits to using the re-use phone line.

“It costs nothing and drivers come to you, so there’s no effort needed beyond picking up the phone.

“The benefits to Scotland are also considerable.

For example, around half a million of sofas are sent to landfill each year in Scotland. However, around a fifth are currently re-used which generates £1.5m to the Scottish economy through sales and employment and saves the equivalent of 4,500 tonnes of carbon emissions, which is the equivalent of taking 750 cars off the roads.

“So if you’re replacing any large item in your house, help yourself and help Scotland and call our phone line.” The National Re-Use Phone line can be called on 0800 0665 820 from Monday to Friday 9 til 5 with an answerphone service also available at weekends. Common items picked up by the service include sofas, washing machines, fridges, dining tables, chairs and desks.

“Many items picked up are sent to second hand stores which are accredited as Revolve stores, a quality standard for second hand shops that meet high standards and levels of customer service. Cunninghame Furniture in Irvine is a Revolve accredited store selling a wide range of furniture and household items.

Encouraging greater re-use of items is a key part of Zero Waste Scotland’s work in creating a circular economy, where products and materials stay in the highest value state for as long as possible.

Re-using items is significantly more environmentally friendly than recycling them.

For example, re-using 100 sofas saves 1.5 tonnes of carbon compared to recycling them.

The Recycle for Scotland website has a wealth of information about how to reduce your waste and re-use more often as well as information on recycling, providing a one-stop shop for ways to become a zero-waste household.

Find out more at www.recycleforscotland.com.