Reusing your waste

You may be able to reuse materials and equipment in your own business or another organisation may be able to reuse your waste. Reusing waste can reduce your costs as you do not need to pay to dispose of the waste. You may also be able to generate income from materials and goods that are valuable to another organisation.

The goods and materials you can reuse will depend on your type of business. For example, manufacturing businesses may be able to reuse packaging and off-cuts while office-based businesses can reuse scrap paper for note pads, and printer cartridges.The National Industrial Symbiosis Programme (NISP) helps to bring together organisations that can reuse each other's waste. You can read about reusing waste materials at the NISP website - Opens in a new window

You could try business-to-business online waste exchanges which trade a wide range of used industrial materials and equipment. You may also be able to buy goods and materials from online auction sites such as eBay.You can offer waste materials, second quality products, end-of-line products and obsolete equipment to other organisations which can use them without alteration. If you offer electrical and electronic equipment or other hazardous waste to other organisations, you must ensure that it is safe, transported safely and that the organisation taking it has the required permits to do so.


There are many charities that will collect your waste items, at their expense. They usually set out clearly what items they will and will not take. Some are licensed to take electrical and electronic goods. For example, the Furniture Re-use Network groups 400 charities. Schools may also take unwanted computers, electrical equipment and materials. InKind Direct collects mostly end-of-line and second quality products on behalf of various charities and schools.