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INTRODUCTION << HOMES << WATER << STUFF >> TRAVEL >> FOOD >> COMMUNITY
Manufacturing (excluding imports) causes 16% of UK carbon emissions. How can we meet our needs while using the planet’s resources wisely?
REDUCE
The most environmentally friendly item is usually the one you already have! Save money and the environment by borrowing or buying second hand (see REUSE), or buying a smaller one. Refilling bottles of shampoo, cleaning fluids etc. means fewer plastic bottles, as do solid soaps and shampoo bars. They’re often cheaper too. Refill at October Books https://octoberbooks.org/, Bitterne Park Stores https://bitterneparkstores.co.uk/and Gaia Health Store https://www.gaiahealthstore.co.uk/
REUSE
Buy or sell on a commercial site, or try one of the following:
Charity shops (clothes, shoes, books, bric-a-brac; some take furniture and/or electrical goods – but check before donating these)
Freecycle (give away unwanted items) https://www.freecycle.org/
Jamie’s Computers (refurbishes unwanted computer equipment for sale to the public or free to charities or low-income families) Unit 33, Mount Pleasant Industrial Estate, Mount Pleasant Road SO14 0SP https://jamies.org.uk/ 023 8063 2198.
Monty’s Bike Hub (bike recycling project) https://montysbikehub.org/
SCRATCH (Dorcas Project collects furniture and Repaint Scheme collects paint, distributed to disadvantaged people) 33 Mount Pleasant Industrial Estate, SO14 0SP www.scratchcharity.co.uk 023 8077 3132
Southampton Clothes Swaps (regular clothes swapping events around the city) https://www.facebook.com/SouthamptonClothesSwaps
Tools for Self Reliance (local charity that refurbishes donated wood/ metalworking tools and sewing machines for use by small traders in Africa) Netley Marsh, SO40 7FY https://www.tfsr.org/ 023 8086 9697
John Lewis (accepts clothes for charity shop resale or recycling) https://www.johnlewis.com/our-services/fashioncycle
Emmaus (collects furniture for resale, refurbishment or upcycling in its charity shops, supporting people facing homelessness) Southampton Superstore, Unit 2, Jansen Rd SO15 5TA
Treasured Trash Network (links to local groups for swapping and borrowing) https://www.facebook.com/nothinggoestowaste
Swaythling Station Free Shop (baby clothes and equipment) Sat 10-12.30am (Also free food, FOOD section below)
REPAIR
Repairing things saves waste, resources and money. See the repairs and spares section of the Southampton Sustainability Directory for a list of Southampton repair shops!)
SOUTHAMPTON REPAIR CAFE Our volunteer repairers will tackle most portable items including electrical, computers, sewing, jewellery, bikes etc. while you watch and have a cuppa and cake.
10.30-13.00 at:
Freemantle Baptist Church Testwood Rd, SO15 8RL (1st Sat of Feb/Apr/Jun/Aug/Oct/Dec)
St James by the Park (Shirley) Parish Hall 1a Colebrook Rd, Shirley (1st Sat of Mar/May/Jul/Sep/Nov)
St Denys Community Centre Priory Rd, SO17 2JZ (3rd Sat of Jan/Mar/May/Jul/Sep/Nov)
Immaculate Conception Church Hall 346 Portswood Rd, SO17 3SB. (3rd Sat of Feb/Apr/Jun/Aug/Oct)
More information at https://transitionsouthampton.org
Other local repair cafes https://therestartproject.org/networks/hampshire
MAKING, MENDING AND CRAFTING
So Make It (Southampton Makerspace) (for anyone who likes making things – wood/metal work, 3D printing, robotics, sewing, baking etc etc – to share knowledge, skills and tools), Unit K6 Pitt Rd, Liners Industrial Estate, Freemantle SO15 3FQ https://somakeit.org.uk/
Mens Sheds (making things, sharing skills, building social connections):
Shirley Men’s Shed Mon/Wed/Thu am, behind St James Methodist Church, St James Road SO15 5HE https://shed.stjamesroad.co.uk/
Bitterne Men’s Shed Club Wed/Thu am behind old tennis court between Holy Saviour Church and Mazda showrooms, Burseldon Rd what3words: blunt.crib.richer https://sites.google.com/view/bitterneshedclub/home
Nursling Men’s Shed Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri am St Boniface Church, Church Lane, Nursling SO16 0Y https://www.hugofox.com/community/nursling-men-s-shed-15309/home
Southampton Scrapstore (surplus, reject & waste materials for reuse by groups, schools & individuals) Unit 15, Belgrave Industrial Estate, Swaythling https://southamptonscrapstore.co.uk/planning-your-visit/
The Sewing Hub community space offering sewing classes as well as an alterations and bespoke design/make service. Unity 12, 9-19 Rose Road https://sewinghub.co.uk/
RECYCLING
If it can’t be reused or repaired, recycle it – but make sure you only put in suitable items, otherwise the whole batch may be rejected.
Southampton doorstep collections (note that these may be subject to change in future as a result of national requirements)
Grey box glass (bottles and jars only – pyrex, wine-glasses etc are the wrong type of glass)
Blue-lidded bin cans, aerosols (except those with “skull & crossbones” on), plastic bottles (with tops), paper and cardboard – please no plastic pots, tubs, trays or lids
Brown-lidded bin garden waste (flowers, fallen fruit, prunings; also real Christmas trees)
Household waste recycling centre (HWRC) (Electrical, batteries, fluorescent lamps, toxic waste, paint, garden waste, rubble, waste engine oil etc) City Depot and Recycling Park, First Avenue SO15 0LJ. Southampton residents can also use other Hampshire HWRCs. Cars must be pre-registered and they (and bikes) must book online https://www.hants.gov.uk/wasteandrecycling/recyclingcentres
Charity textile banks (clothes, shoes etc) – find them in your local supermarket or council car park
Mobile phones are taken by many charity shops, otherwise should go to the HWRC so the rare metals in them can be recovered. Apple stores will take old iphones and mac computers
Southampton Special Purposes Workshop (SSPW) (accepts old electrical items etc for recycling; items are stripped by service users) 46-48 Clausentum Rd Portswood http://www.sspw.co.uk/ 023 80338452
Charities often collect items such as aluminium foil or inkjet cartridges for recycling
Printer cartridges are often taken by retailers when you buy new
Plastic bags are taken by many supermarkets. Not for recycle bins or banks.
Batteries are taken by DIY stores and some supermarkets. Don’t put in waste bin.
Southampton City Council’s A-Z of recycling shows what you can you can recycle in the city
https://www.southampton.gov.uk/bins-recycling/recycling/what-can-i-recycle
Kicks Count (raises money for charity from recycling all sorts of things) https://www.facebook.com/groups/879858548704709
ECO-FRIENDLY AND ETHICAL BUYING
If you need to buy new, help both the environment and people by choosing eco-friendly, ethical and fairly traded items. While sometimes more expensive these often last longer, or contain fewer toxic chemicals, or are made in a factory that treats workers fairly, or come from a company that doesn’t test on animals or avoid paying tax. The Fairphone is an example: a fairly-traded, repairable smartphone made without minerals from conflict zones. https://shop.fairphone.com/about-us
LOCAL ETHICAL/FAIR TRADE SUPPLIERS
Shop Local Southampton Shop Local Southampton (somewhere to share local alternatives to
the usual chains, supporting local businesses and the community) https://shoplocalsouthampton.com/
Lush (hand made soaps, shampoo bars etc not tested on animals and with minimal packing), Unit 44, West Quay, SO15 1QD https://www.lush.com/uk/en
October Books (books and fairtrade goods including food and refillable cleaning products) 189 Portswood Road SO17 2WX https://octoberbooks.org/
Gaia Health Store (cruelty-free, plastic-free packaging, refills) 22 Carlton Place Southampton, SO15 2DY https://www.gaiahealthstore.co.uk/
Carlton Place Market (1st Sat each month, arts & crafts, baked goods, local produce, bath & body, jewellery, clothing; organised by Gaia Health Store)
Bitterne Park Stores (local fruit & veg, dairy and groceries, local alcohol, household products, refills, minimal packaging) 25 Manor Farm Rd. Also delivers via https://bitternebox.co.uk/
Willow and Crafts (willow sculptures, workshops, & activities, community and creative, land art projects, working with willow and hedgerow, found and reusing materials) https://www.willowandcrafts.co.uk/
Obvs Skincare (suitable for adults and children who may be prone to eczema/psoriasis/acne, all sustainably packaged using zero plastic) Unit 3B Stone Pier Boatyard, SO31 9FR https://obvs-skincare.co.uk/
Sea Ranger (Southampton based online shop that sells sustainable clothing products like Hoodies, T-Shirts, and Jumpers for adults and children, printed with customisable messages about ocean pollution) https://searanger.uk/
Southampton Special Purposes Workshop (sale of items made by service users including garden furniture, bird feeders etc) Shop: 43b Bridge Rd Woolston SO19 7GP 023 8043 8021 http://www.sspw.co.uk/
Not Just Trash (local artist showcasing transformed discarded waste to inspire others) https://www.facebook.com/notJustTrash
Ethical Consumer magazine & website (investigates and rates the ethics of companies across a wide range of criteria (animal cruelty, worker rights, environment etc) and products https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/
Links to other sections:
INTRODUCTION << HOMES << WATER << STUFF >> TRAVEL >> FOOD >> COMMUNITY