Words by Smiley Team
Instead of binge-buying discounted goods this Black Friday, why not opt for something more eco-friendly and totally free?
A new #ElectricAvenue pop-up store in Bristol will be handing out pre-loved lamps, keyboards, blenders and slow cookers in an effort to tackle electrical waste (e-waste) on 26 November 2021.
Held in the Galleries shopping quarter, the Black Friday giveaway will distribute electrical items donated by households across the city. The pilot project is run by environmental charity Hubbub together with Bristol Waste Company and funded by packaging compliance company Ecosurety.
“Whilst it’s easy to be lured by Black Friday deals, our electrifying new pop-up shop aims to challenge the need to buy brand new and shines a spotlight on the value of electrical items that are often disposed of when they’re no longer needed,” said co-founder of Hubbub Gavin Ellis.
“Many of us have unused electronics gathering dust in our homes and we’re keen to show that these items can go on to have another life, bringing joy to another household without the environmental or financial cost,” he added.
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The organisations hope the initiative will tackle the mounting levels of electronic devices which get sent to landfill each year. Only 20% of e-waste gets recycled globally, and waste electronics in 2021 will weigh more than the Great Wall of China.
This is a particular problem in the UK, which produces the second most electrical waste per person in the world, second only to Norway.
Gwen Frost from Bristol Waste said: “It’s time to turn Black Friday green. Choosing pre-loved items isn’t just good for your pocket, it’s good for the environment too, saving valuable resources from being chucked away."
The Bristol pop-up shop will last for 10 days from 26 November until 5 December. Visitors can take an item home for free and donate any functioning electrical items they no longer need.
All devices will be cleaned, repaired and safety checked before being handed out. Donated items must be in working condition, with a plug and be liftable by one person.
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If you have any unwanted electronic items, drop them off at the pop-up store or at Bristol Waste’s Reuse Shop in Avonmouth.
Item donors will get entered into a prize draw to win a £50 voucher for the Reuse Shop.
Visit the Black Friday Giveaway at The Galleries, 25 Union Gallery, Broadmead, Bristol, BS1 3XD, from 10am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday; and 10am to 5pm on Sunday. Find more information at bristolwastecompany.co.uk.
