Discarded kitchens have been given a new life thanks to an innovative reuse project that is being supported by Rethink Waste.
Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore facility in Lisburn has received just over £31,000 in Revenue Fund grants to develop its kitchen donation and refurbishment project.
The scheme targets unwanted kitchen fittings and sees them being carefully removed and follows enquires from the public about collections from their homes when refitting.
The Kitchen Rescue project now removes the various cupboards and worktops etc. without incurring any damage, making them resalable.
The project works by encouraging homeowners to donate their unwanted kitchens and by partnering with kitchen companies to encourage their customers who are having a new kitchen fitted to consider donating their old one.
Customers are also encouraged to donate their old kitchen through Kitchen Rescue as they do not have to deal with the removal of the kitchen. They also have the satisfaction of knowing their kitchen will be reused to aid other families as well as raising funds to support other Habitat programmes.
This is only the latest move for this dynamic local voluntary organisation.
In December 2012, Habitat NI opened the doors of Europe’s first Habitat ReStore at Riverside Centre, Lisburn.
Former DOE Minister Alex Attwood was on hand personally to launch this low cost DIY store selling donated new and used building and home improvement materials at a fraction of the retail price.
The Minister was told how ReStore aimed to serve local families with an affordable means of renovating and improving their home.
At the same time, funds raised at ReStore are used to support other Habitat programmes at home and around the world. Habitat ReStore sells and accepts donations of good quality, reusable materials including: kitchens, bathrooms, doors, furniture, timber, plumbing supplies, building materials, paving slabs, garden materials, office furniture and electrical appliances.
Betty Perris from Rethink Waste explained the reasoning behind the latest DOE funding and said: “The ReStore is staffed by volunteers under the guidance of an experienced retail manager, helping deliver a more sustainable Northern Ireland, giving individuals and companies the opportunity to be more environmentally and socially responsible and diverting tons of potential waste from landfill each year.
“Now ReStore’s latest scheme offers the ideal base for Kitchen Rescue, directly targeting those who wish to purchase at a low cost whilst reaching out to the community to educate on waste reuse and prevention,” which we are glad to support