More than 7,000 nearly-new household items used in housing for journalists during the London Games are being donated to charity by UNITE. UNITE provides student accommodation, and was contracted by LOCOG to supply housing for more than 3,000 journalists during the Olympic and Paralympic games. The housing is normally used by students during the academic year, but was specially equipped during the games with new bedding, crockery and kitchen utensils for journalist accommodation.
In preparation for student move-in during the upcoming weeks, the London Re-Use Network (LRN) is collecting more than 80 tonnes of items from 13 student halls. The clear-out is being conducted in just two-and-a-half days in postcodes from E1 through N17, with items being deposited at a Mitcham depot for collection by charities.
"The Olympics and Paralympics have been fantastic for London, and we've been proud to be involved", said Alan Blackmore, UNITE's Operations Manager for the Olympics Project. "However, UNITE provides homes for nearly 8,000 students in London, so it's also crucial that the properties are ready for them when the new academic year starts next week. This provided us with a huge challenge in terms of ensuring the items we provided to journalists and officials during the games went to good use: we had no intention of letting such a huge number of almost-new homewares be thrown out."
Benefitting charities include The Docklands Settlements, which runs children's breakfasts and after school clubs through its community centres; St Giles Trust, which will pass items on to prison leavers, needy families and young people; City YMCA London, which will use items at its Islington hostel for at-risk youth; and others including Hope 4 Havering, The Vine Project, Barnardos, the Salvation Army. Cancer Research UK will also receive 10 per cent of the items to raise funds to support medical research.
Charles Craft, Managing Director of London Re-Use, said: "This carries on the feel-good factor from the 2012 Games. Reusing perfectly good household items contributes to the 2012 London Games' green legacy. The bedding, crockery and kitchen utensils donated by UNITE will give much needed support to worthwhile and needy causes.
"This operation is part of the development of a pan-London Re-Use Network embracing commercial organisations, London boroughs and other reuse partners, which will divert thousands of tonnes from landfill and create another post-games legacy in the form of job and training opportunities for Londoners."
Get our weekly digest
resource.co article ai
How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.