The North London Waste Authority (NLWA) will be hosting the London Upcycling Show this Saturday November 16 to commemorate the European Week for Waste Reduction.
The London Upcycling Show aims to help Londoners reduce the amount of furniture they throw away and make a positive impact on the environment by repairing or reusing furniture and old possessions.
Barbara Herridge, external relations manager for the NLWA, said: “We want to inspire people to reuse and repair their furniture to resist the contemporary throwaway culture – this year we organised a creative challenge and panel discussion for people to learn the necessary skills to do so.”
The event will take place in Walthamstow Assembly Hall from 11am – 3pm, and will feature activities for children while adults can learn skills on how to upcycle.
The waste disposal authority for the London boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington, and Waltham Forest, the NWLA has longed tried to engage its residents into repurposing its furniture rather than throw it away.
A 2018 NWLA survey found that 22 million small items of furniture, more than 11,000 bicycles, and over 28 million toys are thrown away each year by local residents.
Almost half of respondents claimed throwing away their old furniture was either the most convenient thing to do, or that it was simply cheaper to replace their furniture rather than repair it. Another quarter of respondents said they were just not sure how to replace them.
Saturday’s event marks the fourth inception of the showcase, and will feature a number of showcases, workshops, and exhibits. Twenty-five North London residents will display an item of furniture rescued from waste to compete with one another.