Re-used ... re-loved

• Office equipment and furniture finds a new home or new purpose if not thrown away
• Community centres and schools can make use of the equipment
• Valuable materials contained in the used items can be repurposed as well

Office waste can be reduced by ensuring that discarded office equipment and furniture is re-used in some other facility or for another purpose. The equipment can be donated to charity organisations or stores that specialise in this type of re-use. The East Bay Depot for Creative Re-use is a non-profit organisation established for the purpose of redistributing used office furniture and machinery to schools and community centres, for example.

Key benefits

Offices wishing to refurbish often do so for decorative or aesthetic reasons, which means their existing furniture is still in good condition or re-usable. By giving it to organisations, such as the East Bay Depot, the company can also saves on costly waste-collection charges. However, the savings in resources are much greater as furniture and equipment are normally large items containing various materials. By prolonging their lifespan through re-use, resources are saved, recycled, re-used or repurposed in new equipment and products.