Georgie Samuel, Local Authority Partnership Development Officer at Circular Communities Scotland, reflects on a year of building connections between
local authorities and community reuse organisations.
“One year into our Local Authority Partnership programme, I’m encouraged by the opportunities emerging to bring local authorities and community reuse organisations closer together.
The biggest lesson so far is that these organisations have a lot to offer each other. Our members need a greater supply of reusable products and materials, while local authorities need better ways to manage unwanted household items, keeping them out of the waste stream and maximising their value.
By bringing these needs together, we can create benefits that go well beyond waste reduction.”
What opportunities are emerging?
“Over the past year, we’ve been mapping opportunities, building relationships and developing potential partnerships involving furniture, mattresses, bikes, IT equipment and other materials.
Community reuse organisations can help local authorities meet social and environmental priorities while creating employment and volunteering opportunities, developing practical skills and helping people access good-quality, affordable household goods.
We’re exploring opportunities to divert more mattresses from waste through cleaning and sanitisation for reuse, collect and redistribute bikes from household waste recycling centres, and integrate reuse into bulky-uplift services. We also want community reuse organisations to have a meaningful role in wider circular economy discussions in areas including Glasgow and Tayside.
We’ve already connected several members with their local authorities, and we’re continuing to explore where these relationships could lead.”
What are the challenges?
“There’s real potential, as well as barriers to partnership working. Local authorities are working with stretched budgets and competing priorities, and may lack the capacity to develop new reuse arrangements. Some household waste recycling centres also have limited space for reuse facilities.
Our members face their own pressures, including rising operating costs and changes in consumer behaviour during a cost-of-living crisis. These can affect their ability to collect, process and redistribute reusable goods.
Partnerships take time and commitment. It’s not just about making an introduction – organisations need to understand each other’s needs and work through the practical details together.
At Circular Communities Scotland, we can help bring people together, identify opportunities and support those conversations. We’re also working to shape a policy environment that enables reuse and repair partnerships to grow.”
What comes next?
“Over the next year, I want to build on the relationships we’ve developed as well as connecting more local authorities with reuse organisations, exploring how existing partnerships can grow, and helping partners learn from approaches that are already working.
Sharing that learning is particularly important. If one area finds an effective way to collect and redistribute a particular material, others may be able to adapt that approach to their own communities. By sharing experiences and ideas, we can help successful approaches spread.”
Could we help you develop a partnership?
“If you’re a local authority looking to increase reuse, or a reuse organisation interested in working more closely with your council, I’d love to hear from you. Whether you have a specific material you want to divert from waste, an idea for a pilot project or an ambition to expand reuse, we can explore the possibilities together.
Get in touch with me, Georgie Samuel, Local Authority Partnership Development Officer at Circular Communities Scotland, at georgie@circularcommunities.scot.”