Reuse, Share & Repair
Every year in Scotland, thousands of perfectly usable items are thrown away. Bikes, small electricals, clothing, furniture. Most still have plenty of life left in them.
But what if we valued what we already have and kept things in use for longer?
Fix it. Pass it on. Share it. Use it again.
This is the idea behind a circular economy: keeping things in use for as long as possible, so that as little as possible goes to waste. Scotland already recycles around 60% of its waste, but we can do better. The best version of the future is one where we need to recycle less because we’re reusing, sharing and repairing more.
And with the cost of living rising, making the most of what we already have just makes sense: for the planet, for our communities and and for our pockets!
What we're working towards
We want reuse, sharing and repair to become a normal part of everyday life in Midlothian. Here’s what we’re working towards:
🔄 Reuse
More creative projects that find new purpose for things that would otherwise go to waste.
🤝 Share
More ways for communities to share tools, equipment and resources, so there’s less need to buy things they’ll rarely use.
🔧 Repair
More community spaces where people can bring broken or worn items, learn to fix them and share skills with.
We’ve already run a community swap shop, supported local groups with seedcorn funding, and we’re currently organising repair skill workshops across Midlothian. This is just the beginning.
How we can support you
Whether you have a fully formed plan or just the seed of an idea, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Here’s how we can support you:
🌱 Seedcorn grants: we have funding available to help turn your idea into a real project
📚 Upskilling & training: we can host hands-on workshops to help your group build the skills to run reuse, repair and sharing activities
💡 Project development: we can give support to help get your idea off the ground and connect you with other local groups to share knowledge, resources and experience
Ready to start something in your community? Whether you have an idea for a project or would like to get involved in reuse, share & repair opportunities in Midlothian, we’d love to hear from you!
What's happening in Midlothian?
Midlothian already has some fantastic community-led projects keeping things in use and out of landfill. From borrowing tools and getting bikes back on the road, to picking up a bargain at a community charity shop.
