Give and take

'Give and take' sessions, or swap forums, are events at which you can give - donate - items you don’t need, and take for free something that someone else has given.

Generally you can give and take small portable household items including bric-a-brac, but clothes, electrical appliances and large pieces of furniture may not be accepted. However, in some cases there are arrangements with furniture reuse projects that can organise transport between giver and taker. Often charities are invited to take anything that remains towards the end of the session. They are a great way to help ensure that unwanted items are reused rather than being thrown away.

Over a dozen London boroughs are organising and promoting Give and take sessions, every month or two, sometimes in collaboration with reuse organisations. The benefit for the borough of doing this is that they can help reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.

Why not check with your own borough to see if they are running any Give and take events?