A new re-use and repair site, the "very first of its kind", is coming to Acton in 2024.

It will help people reduce and recycle more of their waste, ending the need to send it to landfill says Ealing Council.

The council and West London Waste Authority are transforming an old waste site at Stirling Road into a space for residents to repair, reuse and recycle electronics, bicycles, furniture, clothes and more.

With community sessions and events, residents will also be able to learn skills to help live more sustainably, improve wellbeing, mental health and employment opportunities.

Locals will be able to donate or buy refurbished furniture, electronic goods and household appliances, as well as pick up food otherwise destined to go to waste.

There will also be opportunities for volunteering, work placements and apprenticeships, creating a healthier local economy.

What is circular economy?

It is a system where materials and products are reused in a sustainable or environmentally friendly way, rather than wasted.

This can be through maintenance, refurbishment, recycling, reuse or composting.

The new workshop will help to create a circular economy in the borough. 

Circular Economy Week (16 – 20 Oct 2023) by ReLondon is an annual inspiration to reduce the collective impact on the climate by changing the way that residents and businesses produce and use stuff.

Councillor Deirdre Costigan, deputy leader and cabinet member for climate action, said: "We are really excited to be able to re-open the old Acton waste depot and to announce that Ealing will be home to the very first circular economy space of its kind in the capital!

"We already have a top-quality waste collection service and we are consistently in the top three in London when it comes to rates of recycling. But we need to go to the next level – we need to avoid waste in the first place and the new Acton site will hugely increase opportunities for residents to re-use, repair and recycle.

"It is our ambition to become a net zero borough by 2030, which we cannot achieve on our own. We can all be part of a circular economy and this new initiative is just the start of the council's ambitions."

Why do we need a circular economy?

A circular economy space could:

• reduce waste and encourage fixing and re-using old items that would otherwise go to landfill
• create job opportunities and apprenticeships while promoting local businesses
• inspire positive environmental change through sustainable practices
• improve people's mental health through free classes and workshops
• help people on a limited budget, by providing access to repair services and surplus food, as well as educating them on food growing, recycling and reusing

New approach to waste

With this new site in Acton, the council is taking an "innovative" approach to waste, encouraging people to avoid it in the first place by re-using and repairing.

It will allow changes at the Greenford waste and recycling centre where there is already over capacity.

The Greenford site will now be open five days a week – Friday to Tuesday (which includes weekends and bank holidays), from 8am to 4pm, with more residents expected to take their belongings to the Acton workshop to see if they can be re-used or repaired.

Ealing Council is also asking local organisations that can help residents reduce their waste or repair, reuse and recycle their belongings, to fill in a short online form on Waste London Waste's website. 

For the latest updates on the new site coming to Acton, sign up to the council's weekly e-newsletter.

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