Saving Waste from Landfill: Lochalsh Reuse & Recycle Hub
It’s time for a very special Guest Blog! We are delighted to feature Lochalsh Reuse & Recycle Hub as part of April campaign to raise awareness around Waste. A warm welcome to Grace, who is going to tell us all about the Hub, and how it’s helping to reduce waste Lochalsh. So stick the kettle on and get comfy for our latest read. . . over to you Grace!
An Introduction to us
Hello, I'm Grace Sikorski McCulloch, the Manager of the Lochalsh Reuse & Recycle Hub, employed by the Kyle and Lochalsh Community Trust. I also oversee our community facilities—Toilets, Showers, and Laundrette—located right beside the Hub in the heart of Kyle of Lochalsh.
Our charity is on a mission to make a positive impact socially, environmentally, and economically within our community. One significant way we do this is through our Reuse and Recycle hub.
About the Lochalsh Reuse & Recycle Hub
We opened our doors in October 2022, we are located in what once was the tourist information centre in Kyle, our hub is a wee place with a big purpose! Our small donations storeroom is a mile away in a building owned by the Trust.
I manage the Hub with the invaluable support of volunteers, Trust employees and a dedicated Board of Trustees. What makes our hub truly special is our team of 20 volunteers. Some contribute with regular weekly shifts, while others help out when they can spare some time. Their commitment keeps us running, and we're incredibly thankful for each one of them!
The Community Fridge
Our Community Fridge initiative aims to combat food waste by collecting surplus food from local retailers. This food is then made available for free at the hub to anyone in the community who can use it, it is not based on need but on reducing perfectly good food from ending up in the bin. Local growers also contribute excess produce, to be shared with everyone.
We track the food taken from the fridge (we ask customers to weigh the food out) which not only helps us measure the impact but also supports our funding applications. In just six months, we saved an impressive 1.5 tons of food from landfill!
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Co-op in Kyle and Spar in Balmacara for their regular donations of surplus food, supporting us in our efforts to reduce waste. We gladly accept non-perishable items, frozen food and fresh food just past its 'Best Before' date. While we can’t distribute food past its 'Use By' date in accordance with UK regulations, any freezable items are put in our freezer in the evening and shared the next day. For items unsuitable for freezing, we are exploring composting solutions to further minimise landfill waste.
The Reuse Hub
Beyond our food-saving efforts, we operate a Reuse Hub where donated items are sold at low prices, encouraging people to shop second-hand before buying new. Our hub is an eclectic mix of interesting, practical and sometimes pretty quirky donations, offering a diverse and ever-changing array of items that appeal to a wide range of tastes and needs.
When donating to our Hub, we kindly request that items be clean and in sellable condition. The process of checking and researching donations requires significant time and effort - and as we only have limited space - clean donations help us process items faster!
The community support is evident as our hub sees a steady stream of visitors daily, we love it when people come in for a chat—there's absolutely no pressure to buy. Whether you're a local or a tourist, we're always happy to welcome you and share our passion for sustainability.
Since this time last year, we've sold and diverted over 20,000 items from landfill, including 3665 items of clothing, 3417 books, and 1280 toys, among others!
Community and Beyond
Our mission goes beyond selling second-hand goods and reducing food waste. We're dedicated to building community connections and fostering opportunities for personal growth. Taking the Hub on tour to local events not only allows us to spread our message but also generates extra income to sustain our operations.
We pack up boxes of donations for sale at these events, providing us with a chance to engage with people and discuss our project. Since our opening, we've attended 14 events, which have been both enjoyable and beneficial in generating additional income to support the Lochalsh Reuse & Recycle Hub.
As a not-for-profit organisation, any profit we generate is reinvested back into the community, making Lochalsh an even better place to live.
Wow! Thank you Grace for making such a positive contribution in Kyle of Lochalsh!
If you're interested in learning more please visit:
Hub Location: Lochalsh Reuse and Recycle Hub, Car Park, 4 Station Rd, Kyle of Lochalsh, Kyle IV40 8AE
Hub Opening Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 9am – 4pm (Closed Sundays + Mondays)
Hub Facebook: www.facebook.com/RandRHub
Trust Facebook: www.facebook.com/kyleandlochalshcommunitytrust
Trust Website: www.lochalsh.uk
Consider attending their upcoming events & donating items to support the Hub!
