FRN Champions Waste Strategy Review

The Furniture Reuse Network (FRN), an organisation targeting the re-use of unwanted furniture, has expressed approval of this year's Government waste strategy for England.

The charity, formed in 1989, has over 400 furniture and electrical appliance re-use organisations over the UK. They distributed 2 million household items last year alone, redirecting 80,000 tonnes that would have otherwise gone to landfill. Its positive reaction to the strategy is not least due to one of the main objectives, stating that a stronger emphasis must be put on material re-use and waste prevention.

Counting re-use within local authority waste targets and increasing the re-use of bulky household items are both sighted in the strategy as important steps to take for improvement. This emphasis on re-use rather than recycling is a fundamental part of the FRN's own work. The strategy also states that there will be an expanded role for the third sector in the delivery of public sector waste services, a clause that will directly affect the FRN.

Paul Smith, Chief Executive of the Furniture Re-use Network, commented: "We are delighted that DEFRA has listened to the representations we have made over the last year. We believe that the third sector is ready to take on an expanded role in delivering high quality, customer focused services which maximise re-use and will also play a significant role in reducing poverty and social exclusion."