80  Unwanted goods

This group of categories includes -

81  Textiles
82  Furniture and household goods
83  Medical equipment
84  Baby goods
85  Tools
86  Shop and office furnishings
87  Computers, phones and electronic goods
88  Plant and machinery
89  Miscellaneous unwanted goods

Sections 80 - 89 deal with unwanted goods, and list organisations which would be pleased to make further use of them by reuse or repair, or by recycling all or part of the items.  

It would, of course, be easier to find homes for unwanted goods if we reduced our consumption to something more closely matching our real need, and bought less in the first place! 

Disposing of unwanted property is a common task for property managers, new occupants of not-so-new buildings, and those responsible for winding up a business.  For a second-hand goods dealer, it is routine - an opportunity to add to stock.  But for those personally involved in clearing a house, it is probably an unwelcome, inconvenient and possibly emotional task for which a large rubbish skip may be a tempting solution.  Please breathe deeply and think again!  The following sections are intended to stimulate a more positive approach.
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THE WASTEBOOK SAYS  
Fly-tipping is illegal, unsociable and unnecessary - don't even think about it.

There is a charge for every load of waste you take to landfill - 
BUT the organisations below may want to use your waste, 
or they could direct you to someone who does.

If you know someone who may be fly-tipping, PLEASE put them in touch 
with someone listed in THE WASTEBOOK who can help them.
____________________________________________________

Two guides to cut packaging and re-use waste
One person's rubbish is someone else's treasure! 
WEN's Guide to Running a Give or Take Day (Developed with the Forest Recycling Project) is designed for community groups, local authorities or businesses - sometimes groups of businesses get together to organise a Give or Take Day.  They are fun, easy to run and a great way to divert useful items away from landfill into the hands of people who can really use them. Think of a swap shop or jumble sale with no money changing hands.  People can bring along virtually any household items (in good condition) and take away others. At one event a lucky punter snapped up an entire kitchen!  

The Guide covers relevant legislation and pitfalls to avoid.  Maeve Murphy, WEN's Waste Prevention Officer, said: "In the UK we dump a shocking 414 million tonnes of waste in landfill every year - much of this is unnecessary packaging or perfectly good items that someone could use."  

WEN's Packaging Action Kit is a step-by-step guide for individuals and
groups on how to tackle waste from a shopping trip.  From the simplest action, such as leaving bags and excess packaging at the checkout (and telling the assistant why), to how to challenge supermarkets to reduce waste and meet their legal obligations, it includes tips on how supermarkets work, community campaigning, and ideas for low-waste shopping.

Both guides can be downloaded free from www.wen.org.uk or send £1 each for a hard copy to WEN, PO Box 30626, London E1 1TZ.
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Also see  
Office wastes and toner cartridges (35)
Auction houses (110)
Scrapstores (140)
Charity and community schemes (130)
Local government services (160)

Alphabetical list of organisations

Any Junk?
Tel 0800 0431 007  /  020 8877 1155 
Website www.anyjunk.co.uk  Email enquiries@anyjunk.co.uk 
Unit A06, Riverside Business Park, Haldane Place, Wandsworth, LONDON SW18 4UQ

Junk clearance and rubbish removal for the home, office and garden, by " friendly, uniformed drivers in smart, shiny trucks".  Most of Greater London covered.  Old sofas to construction rubble.  Junk taken to recycling depot or given to charity if possible.  If your waste is all 'ready' at the same time, a useful alternative to skip hire.  One-off or regular clearances for offices.  Bookings within 2 hour 'windows'; team calls 15-30 min before arrival.  Payment on collection: rates per amount of junk collected and weight - rough quote on phone, exact quote on arrival - guide on website.  Office hours Mon to Fri 9 - 5; clearance hours Mon to Fri 8 - 5, Sat 9 - 1pm.  No hazardous materials such as paint, noxious chemicals, solvents, oil, petrol cans, gas bottles, tyres, asbestos, vehicle batteries, medical or biological waste.  No house-to-house removals, but can take to a charity if agreed with charity in advance.  (Updated Oct 2005)

Branching Out
Tel 01353 863221  Fax 08714 335807
Email general@branching-out.uk.net  Web www.branching-out.uk.net 
27 Grange Lane, Littleport, ELY, Cambs CB6 1HW
Contact  Roy Knights - Manager

Charity training people with learning disabilities, aiming to help them find work.  Produces a range of garden furniture and outdoor equipment, sold to fund training and support for students in office skills, recycling, carpentry, horticulture, retail, and catering.  Supplies wooden planters and hanging baskets, also veg grown on own land.  Refurbishes donated computers (in good condition, up to 7 years old), sells some parts and systems, and provides technical support.  Donated clothing should be washed; soft furniture needs kite mark or safety labels.  Working electrical items accepted - these are safety tested.  No white goods.  Many second-hand items on sale in charity shop.  Charge for delivery collection - £2.50 for Littleport, £5 for Ely.  Community cafe, and many community activities.  Recycling team collects used aluminium cans, foil, mobile phones, ink and toner cartridges (not Epson).  Recycles Christmas trees.  (Updated Nov 2005) 

Business in the Community (BITC)
Tel 0207 486 1700 / 0207 224 1600 Fax 0207 629 1834 E-mail Bie@BITC.org.uk
44 Baker Street, LONDON W1M 1DH

Charity promoting business aid and support to local communities, at the same time enhancing corporate reputation and generating goodwill.  Part-funded by member companies working with the Prince's Trusts.  Provides advice and support in translating community and environmental projects into business benefits.  Campaign areas include donation of unwanted or secondhand goods or other surplus resources for community use. Also maintains information on contacts able to find recipients.  An associated campaign - Business in the Environment - encourages the improvement of environmental performance, with practical benefits such as significant cost reductions through waste minimisation programmes.

BRE (Building Research Establishment) Tel 01923 664200 Fax 01923 664786 Centre for Waste and Recycling, Garston, WATFORD, Herts WD2 7JR Website www.bre.co.uk  E-mail enquiries@bre.co.uk

UK’s leading construction and fire research centre.  BRE's Centre for Waste and Recycling provides advice on all aspects of the management of construction and demolition waste.  The Centre is carrying out research into many waste issues, including the use of recycled aggregate, best practice demolition and reducing construction waste.  Initiated a materials information exchange for the construction industry: if you have a waste material looking for a market contact Rod Collins on collinsr@bre.co.uk or visit the SalvoMIE Materials Information Exchange website (listed below).  The  scheme allows the construction industry to buy and sell used, secondhand and unused materials over the internet.  Information and links on Sustainable Construction.  Publishes report: Deconstruction and re-use of construction materials  (Updated Nov 2003)

Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT)
Tel 01654 705950  Fax 01654 702782  Mail order tel 01654 705959  Mail order fax 01654 705999  Shop 01654 705993
Website www.cat.org.uk  Email  (various - see website)
MACHYNLLETH, Powys SY20 9AZ

It is an enjoyable and educational experience to visit this seven-acre permanent exhibition of sustainable technology with residential community set in a  reclaimed slate quarry, now a wildlife haven.   Activities powered mainly by water, wind and sun.  Welcomes British and foreign stamps (still on the paper) - send to Barbara Wallace at CAT.  These are sorted then sold to dealers or collectors.  Money raised fund CAT’s environmental volunteer service.  Demonstrations of composting systems.  Offers consultancy on practical renewable energy solutions.  Runs training courses such as renewable energy systems, self-build houses, organic growing and biological waste treatments including composting and reed bed sewerage systems.   New displays on Energy, Recycling, the Home and Work planned for 2005, and construction begins, open to the public, of new educational establishment, " the greenest building project in the UK".  Water-balanced cliff railway opens for the season on 14 March.  Demonstrations on 9 June 2005 of spinning and weaving techniques using recycled rags.  Produces many  informative newssheets, publications, and quarterly magazine Clean Slate, email cleanslate@cat.org.uk .  Visitor centre open every day. Gift shop near the entrance stocks many interesting goods and books - also mail order catalogue.  Cafe serves delicious organic and fair trade food on premises.  Runs membership organisation, ATA (Alternative Technology Association).  Subsidiary in Machynlleth: Quarry shop wholefoods 01654 702339 and cafe 01654 702624.   (Updated Dec 2004)

Communicycle
Website www.communicycle.com  Email communicycle@communicycle.com 

New website to aid environmentally responsible re-use of items, launched May 2005.  Aims to connect people who want to pass on unwanted items with those who might find them useful, support communities, reduce waste of useable items going to landfill, encourage creative use of items. Bulletin boards.  Like Ebay, but everything is FREE.  Wanted ads welcome if something is offered in exchange.  Donations / sponsorship to Communicycle welcome.  Linked with Ethical Escape, for those who wish to travel lightly and encourage others to do so.  (Updated Aug 2005)

Community Re>Paint 
Tel 0113 243 8777 Fax 0113 234 4222
Email mail@swap-web.co.uk  mark@swap-web.co.uk  Website www.communityrepaint.org.uk  
SWAP, 74 Kirkgate, LEEDS, West Yorks LS2 7DJ
Contact  Mark Gregory, Community Re>Paint Co-ordinator, 0113 200 3951

Of 410 million litres of paint sold each year in the UK ( trade and domestic), 80 million litres (enough to fill 50 Olympic-sized swimming pools) are stored, hoarded in garages or wasted.  Paint can also come from traders, painters and decorators and retail.  When thrown "away", it has until recently been disposed of in landfill.  Community Re>Paint provides a practical solution to this waste stream that is environmentally and socially beneficial.  It is a national network of schemes which diverts one of the most common types of Hazardous Household Waste - unwanted paint - from the waste stream, sorts and redistributes it free for re-use by community groups, charities, and people on low incomes.  About 70 local paint schemes operate around the UK - case studies on website.   Householders can donate surplus paint at drop- off points (usually a walk-in skip) such as a DIY store, civic amenity site, facilities at council or parish offices, kerbside collection, or direct delivery to the scheme's base.  Community Re>Paint schemes are usually run by voluntary groups but with active support from local authorities, DIY retailers and waste management companies.  SWAP offers a £3000 capital grant, promotional material and advice and support on set up and operation.  Main needs are collection site, portakabin or shipping container, and staff, time and finances to keep the scheme going.  The initiative has provided technical advice, training, promotional assistance and some capital grant funding to start local collection schemes.  Website has details of local schemes.  Examples (WasteBook section 82) are ECT and Newbury Community Furniture Project.  Community Re>Paint won Best Minimisation Project at Biffaward Awards 2000.  Unacceptable materials: Paint thinners, brush cleaners, stripper, varnishes and wood stains, preservatives and treatments, car and industrial paint, aerosol and spray paint, paint not in its original container.  Usable paint: emulsion, gloss, eggshell, satin, silk, undercoat, primer, floor, masonry and exterior paint, plus end-of-line paint from retailers.  The national network was begun in 1992, and is co-ordinated by, Save Waste And Prosper, an organisation  specialising in sustainable resource management, waste minimisation and recycling.   (Updated Aug 2005)

Don't throw it all away
Tel 0207 490 1555  Fax 0207 490 0881  Email info@foe.co.uk 
Website www.foe.co.uk/pubsinfo/pubscat/dont_throw_it_all_away.html  or www.foe.co.uk  
Friends of the Earth, 26-28 Underwood Street, LONDON N1 7JQ

FoE easy-to-read guide to waste reduction and recycling: where to recycle batteries, CDs, mobile phones, paint, and odds and ends.  How to deal with kitchen and garden waste, renovate a house using recycled, stylish materials, or start office paper recycling schemes.  Looks at what we buy and bin, the social and environmental problems from over-consuming and creating so much rubbish, and potential for re-use and recycling.  Illustrated, with inspiring stories from ordinary people, giving practical advice to cut consumption and waste; from recycling the stuff of everyday life to large home improvements.  Recommended by Good Housekeeping.  Printed on paper made from 100% post-consumer waste.  New second edition £6.50, order online or from FoE Publications Despatch, Tel 0207 490 1555.  Further info on FoE and/or waste issues: FoE Information Service freephone 0808 800 1111, email info@foe.co.uk.   (Updated Oct 2004)

Education - Business Partnerships (EBPs)
Tel 01494 475343 High Wycombe  /  01908 660550 Milton Keynes  /  01494 729000 Chiltern & South Bucks  /   01296 383588 Aylesbury Vale

A network of agencies promoting business links between schools and businesses.  An aspect is the donation of surplus goods such as unwanted office furniture and outmoded computer equipment, often of minimal value, for local schools.  Advice on requirements and assistance in placing should be available from the following: Aylesbury Vale EBP, Sweda House, New Street, Aylesbury HP20 2NH; Bedfordshire EBP, Maryland College, Leighton Road, Woburn, Milton Keynes MK42 7PN; Chiltern & South Bucks EBP, Education Office, King George V Road, Amersham, Bucks HP6 5BY; Milton Keynes EBP, Norfolk House, 88 Saxon Gate West, Central Milton Keynes MK9 2DL; High Wycombe Education Commerce & Industry Partnership, Wycombe Area Office, Easton Street, High Wycombe, Bucks HP11 1NH.

Forest Recycling Project
Tel 0208 539 3856
Website www.frponline.org.uk  Email info@frponline.org.uk 
2C Bakers Avenue, Walthamstow, LONDON E17 9AW
Contact: Mark Webster or Charlotte Walker

Not-for-profit community business established 1989, work ing in London Borough of Waltham Forest and surrounding areas.  Forest Collects is a free collection, mainly for elderly and disabled people, of household items, including furniture, books, bric a brac, tools, garden equipment, garden waste, paint, cardboard, scrap metal (eg fences, gates, radiators), wood, textiles, shoes, sinks, baths and basins.  Will also collect small quantities of hardcore - about 3 rubble bags maximum.  Items collected do not have to be in near- new condition. This is done to help people on low incomes, without their own transport or easy access to it, recycle and reuse household items.  Collected items are recycled and reused in the community.  Initiates community recycling activities and runs workshops to encourage environmental awareness, to help create a sustainable society.   Promotes good practice, and offers environmental audits, in offices and service industries.  Offices: Collects office paper and confidential waste for recycling; also redundant computers ReUse-IT@FRP , toner cartridges, cans, foil and plastic cups.  Sells wide range of recycled goods such as papers, office stationery, cleaning materials, fair trade tea and coffee and other goods.  Free collection (from FRP premises Tue -Fri 10 to 4) and redistribution of unwanted paint, under Community Re>Paint scheme.  Large stock of donated files, folders, envelopes, paper and other office items free to those who need them.  Organises 'Give and Take days' offering free exchange of furniture and household goods - see Give and Take, WasteBook section 120:  www.giveortake.org .  5 paid employees, about 20 volunteers. (Updated Aug 2005)

Freecycle
www.Freecycle.org

Worldwide grassroots movement of over 2,300 (since only 2003) local groups of people giving and receiving things free in their own towns.  Provides individuals and non-profits an electronic forum to "recycle" unwanted items.  Free Membership.  Over 40 UK groups.  Website visitors sign up by finding their nearest community exchange group (click on the region on the right):  an automatic e-mail is generated which, when sent, signs you up for your local group and sends you a response with instructions on how it works.  Or go directly to your local group website by clicking on your community's link on the left.  When you want to find a new home for something - whether a chair, fax machine, piano, or old door - simply send an e-mail offering it to members of your group.  If you're looking to acquire something, respond to a member's offer.  After that, it's up to the giver to decide who receives the gift and set up a pickup time.  Non-profit organizations also benefit;  post the item or items you want to give away and local organizations can help you get it to someone in need.  If you can't find a group near you and may consider starting one, click on "Start a Group".  Open to all communities and individuals.  Groups are run by local volunteer moderators who facilitate – ‘grassroots’.  Website sections:  FAQ;  start a group;  instructional video (fun!);  sponsors;  and ‘Newswire’ with hundreds of articles and archives under many sub-headings on everything from national and local news (eg Miami Herald) to recycling tips and links  - like Herman the (composting) Worm!   Freecycle now has 2,343 communities and 926,155 members (Feb 2005).  Started May 2003 to promote waste reduction in downtown Tucson, Arizona, USA, and to save desert landscape from being taken over by landfills.  Only one main rule:  everything posted must be free, legal, and appropriate for all ages.   (Updated Feb 2005)

Green Choices
Website www.greenchoices.org/recycling.html  Email info@greenchoices.org 
PO Box 31617, London SW2 4FF

Free, independent, not-for-profit web guide to greener living.  Like THE WASTEBOOK, it has no products to sell or promote, only ideas and information to help people make greener choices in their day-to-day lives.  The section of the website given above has general advice on reducing, reusing and recycling waste, but there is much more on other web pages.  (Updated May 2005)

InKind Direct
Tel 0207 860 5927 / 0207 860 5930  Fax 0207 860 5920
Email info@inkinddirect.org  Website www.inkinddirect.org
19 Milk Street, London EC2V 8AN
Contact  Tasha Procter, Charities partnership administrator

Charity distributing surplus goods from industry to voluntary organisations throughout UK and abroad.  The mainly new goods are surplus because they are samples, seconds, ends of lines, slow moving items or have faulty packaging.  (However, used computers are refurbished, equipped with operating systems and resold ready to go with 30 day warranty.)  Goods are valuable and useful, but would otherwise go to waste because companies don't have the time or the contacts to make better use of them.   However, they are just the kinds of things needed by people served by charities, not-for-profit organisations or social businesses, including educational items, toys, toiletries, tools, trainers; household appliances and cleaning products; clothes, shoes, sportswear; bedding and linen.  Office supplies and equipment worth over £43 million have been donated by hundreds of companies, and thousands of charities have benefited.  To donate, download faxback form from website.  Voluntary organisations pay an annual registration fee, and receive a monthly catalogue of available goods.  So, instead of occupying storage space or worse, going to landfill, these items go to a huge range of deserving causes.  Range of fees based on charities' incomes - but thanks to funding from charitable trusts and foundations, many groups are subsidised either by geographical location or charity focus.  Open until 6.30 Thursdays.  Operating since 1997.  Retail Donation Initiative (RDI) is another way retailers can donate goods - each branch of a national retailer is matched with a local charity which arranges regular pick-ups of customer returns, ends-of-lines and items with slight defects. Allows stores to build a relationship with a charity from their community - contact robert@inkinddirect.org Tel 0207 860 5971.   (Updated May 2005)

National Industrial Symbiosis Programme (NISP)
Tel 0121 766 4560  Fax 0121 772 1802
Website www.nisp.org.uk  Email enquiries@nisp.org.uk 
Unit F4, The Arch, 48-52 Floodgate Street, BIRMINGHAM B5 5SL

A business-led initiative helping to connect businesses from different sectors to improve resource efficiency and cut waste, saving costs.  Between Apr and Sep 2005, in one region, has helped deliver: £27m cost savings to industry; 25 new businesses; diverted 78,000 tonnes from landfill, 200,000 tonnes CO2 reduction; £2m capital investment in reprocessing/recycling; saved 173 jobs.  Resources can be raw materials, by-products, people, skills, logistics, transport, waste, energy, and water.  Symbiosis: "the coming together of dissimilar organisms in a mutually beneficial relationship" - building networks is how nature works.   Aims over 3 years to ensure: at least 100,000 tonnes of waste is diverted from landfill in each region each year;  CO2 emissions are reduced by 600,000 tonnes a year; £40m of private investment is brought into waste projects; industry saves £10m a year through improved waste and resource management; 300 jobs are created and 300 secured.   Seeks councils to act as trailblazers to work in partnerships with business to reduce, reuse, remanufacture and recycle waste and develop Materials Resource Strategies for environmentally and economically beneficial resource management - this includes procurement of recycled and sustainably produced products, and linking up waste producers with planners and procurers.  Help and training offered in identifying and taking forward opportunities.  Case studies on website.  Funded through DEFRA's BREW (Business Resource Efficiency and Waste) programme, and working across various government agencies and departments.  Operates in 9 UK regions including Wales.  London launch was 27 Sep 2005 - contact Pallab Chatterjee, NISP London Region Co-ordinator, c/o WSP Environmental, Buchanan House, 24-30 Holborn, London EC1N 2HS, Tel 020 7314 5145, Email london@nisp.org.uk   Separate programme for Scotland (SISP).  (Updated Oct 2005)

Oxfam
Tel  General enquiries 0870 333 2700  Reception 01865 311311   Fax 01865 321410 / 313770
Email oxfam@oxfam.org.uk , campaigning@oxfam.org.uk , education@oxfam.org.uk , webteam@oxfam.org.uk , companies@oxfam.org.uk  
Website www.oxfam.org.uk , www.oxfam.org.uk/coolplanet  
Oxfam House, 274 Banbury Road, OXFORD, Oxon OX2 7DZ

Major charity founded 1942, working with poor people in over 70 countries in their struggle against hunger, disease, exploitation and poverty.  Since opening its first high street shop in 1948, has revolutionised donation of unwanted goods to worthwhile causes.  Operates over 850 of Britain's 5000 or so charity shops, receiving textiles, books, and household items, generating (1996) £15m profit on sales of £55m.  More than 22,000 volunteers give 110,000 hours (worth about £36.5million) a week to run the shops (training and support given).  

Oxfam's activities for donation and low price resale:  
National reclamation schemes for textiles (including 600 public donation 'banks') and books (1000 banks) provide collection serviced via a network of local warehouses. 
Wastesaver sorting and reuse facility (Huddersfield) supports shops with unsold clothes, and redistributes UK and worldwide (see Textiles section 81).  Some Oxfam shops have specialist bridal clothing and accessories departments. 
Specialist Oxfam bookshops, and book departments within the shops, including rare and collectables, also via online marketplace www.abebooks.co.uk (see Books and publications section 33). 
Specialist music shops and departments (see section 33, and Miscellaneous unwanted goods 89). 
Specialist shops, and some departments of the shops, accept donations of domestic or office furniture (see Furniture and household goods section 82). 
A specialist Stamp and Coin Unit handles sales of donated collectables (see below, Miscellaneous unwanted goods section 89, or Books section 33).  
People moving home can ask their removers if they can or do take part in the OXBOXX scheme, run by Oxfam with the British Association of Removers (BAR).  
Mobile Phone Recycling:  phones can be taken to any Oxfam shop.  If donating less than 10 you can also send them to Oxfam 'Bring Bring' Scheme, Freepost LON16281, London WC1N 3BR; if more than 10, call 0870 752 0999 for free collection.  (See entries for Oxfam and Corporate Mobile Recycling, Computers, phones and electronic goods section 87, Electronic and electrical scrap section 44, or Office technical wastes including toner cartridges section 35.)  
Cartridge Recycling:  Toner cartridges:  free collection for a minimum of six, in original boxes -  call LaserXchange Tel 01873 859901.  Inkjet cartridges:  LaserXchange will send you a Freepost collection box or bag for posting, or Freepost labels  for smaller amounts.  (See Oxfam and LaserXchange entries, Office technical wastes including toner cartridges section 35; Computers, phones and electronic goods section 87; or Electronic and electrical scrap section 44.)  
Some shops, eg furniture, offer collection - phone your local shop to ask.   If you have something of value to donate, please let them know. 
Mobile gift banks offer convenient donation, with Oxfam providing the bank, posters, leaflets, drop off and collection (see more below).  Contact Michael Taylor, Corporate Account Manager, Tel 01865 313484, mitaylor@oxfam.org.uk about gift banks or to discuss donations of larger quantities, including clothes, books, CDs and toys.   Smaller quantities can be bagged and dropped through an Oxfam shop door when passing.   For any special items, gifts and prizes you wish to donate such as holidays, flights or products, please call 0845 3000 311 for Shop Support.  
Oxfam, with Yahoo auctions, can offer more valuable items for auction on the internet, attracting a large audience.  For this, or information on donating a special item as a raffle prize, contact companies@oxfam.org.uk .  

Companies can donate as a cost-effective, practical way of disposing of unsaleable products.  Oxfam's logistics service collect samples, promotions, returns, seconds, surplus or out of season stock, cutting companies' waste bills and raising funds for Oxfam's work.  Oxfam can arrange mobile gift banks (tidy, taking up 1 square metre of space) so staff can donate goods.  Usually sited in foyers, canteens, car parks, or staff rooms, where most people see them, remaining there for 2-3 weeks.  Companies find gift bank appeals motivate and mobilise staff, and raise money for a good cause.  Contact Michael Taylor, Tel 01865 313484, mitaylor@oxfam.org.uk . 'Companies not producing items that can be sold in shops can find many other ways in which their products or staff may help.'  Latest research by Business in the Community reveals 81 per cent of consumers agree, when price and quality are equal, they are more likely to buy a product associated with a cause.  Contact companies@oxfam.org.uk for information on projects, fundraising, and partnerships.  

Oxfam campaigns on Trade, Education, and Conflict: 'Make Trade Fair', 'Education Now', 'Control Arms'.  Has local groups people can join.  Informative website for teachers and young people www.oxfam.org.uk/coolplanet.  Fair Trade ensures producers in poorer countries get a fair price for their goods, covering production costs and guaranteeing a living income (major UK supermarkets now sell a range of Fair Trade goods, including bananas, tea, coffee, cocoa, chocolate).  Offices in Oxford, Cardiff, Glasgow, London and Exeter.  (Updated Feb 2004)

Oxfam Stamp & Coin Unit
Tel 01869 355114  Email oxfam@oxfam.org.uk  
Website www.oxfam.org.uk   www.oxfam.org.uk/coolplanet 
26 Murdock Road, Bicester OX26 4RF
Contact  Peter Yik

Specialist department of volunteers and some staff dealing with collectables, donated mainly through charity shops.  Handles British and overseas postage stamps attached to paper.  This is profitable, demand exceeding supply.  Most are sold in bulk as 'kiloware'. Selected items are more thoroughly processed for sale in shops; specialist stamp collections and bequests are sold through national philatelic auction houses.  Foreign and outdated British coins and banknotes taken.  Coins redeemed at 50 - 80% face value, sold as scrap or occasionally as rare and valuable collectors' items.  Cigarette coupons, trading stamps, air miles etc, individually have a minute face value, but redeemed in bulk provide substantial income.  Takes postcards (all types but particularly pre-war); medals; cap badges; cigarette and tea cards.  Stamps are best trimmed to leave a 3mm margin.  Oxfam will help you set up collection point in homes or offices - bags of stamps can be taken to local Oxfam shops or sent to the address above.  

Oxfam's head office main entry, including many other activities for donation and low price resale: see Oxfam entry directly above, or in Charity section 130.   (Updated Feb 2004)

Westminster Volunteer Bureau
Tel 0207 402 8076 Fax 0207 402 3124
8 Spring Street, LONDON W2 3RA

Redistribution scheme for unwanted electronic equipment, office furniture and textiles serving voluntary organisations in Westminster by matching requirements with offers of donations. Two paid staff.