Founded on the 1/11/2004, FRP-REUSEiT is a computer reuse initiative based in Waltham Forest, operating in and around London. We accept unwanted computers, printers and peripherals from individuals and companies, then in line with the WEEE & RoHS directives, we rebuild them and introduce them back into the local Charities, Community Groups and Voluntary Organisations.
In our first year we collected 120 computers, and reused 48 of them, to date we have received >1300 computers and reused >810 of these into >90 Charities, Community Groups and Voluntary Organisations, saving these groups over £285,000 had they purchased new equipment.
Our prime objective, with regard to the organisations we supply computers to, is that they are UK based (mainly in and around London) supporting local communities.
As well as receiving computers from individuals and many small companies we are also contracted by Hackney and Waltham Forest Councils to collect their old computer equipment, securely erase disks and distribute the machines they supply to local organisations.
As part of FRP, a not for profit social enterprise we are also supported by many volunteers. Some help us for the good of the local community, some come on Government funded work experience schemes and some just come because they like what we do and get to play with large amounts of computer equipment. Many of the volunteers who come to us (to date there have been 41) are looking to gain work experience, either by being on a government scheme or volunteering independently. At least 4 volunteers have gone on to find full time employment.
Apart from refurbishing the computers, printers, scanners and all the odds and ends that come with a computer system, we have been trying to find alternative ways of reusing non refurbishable equipment. We have been turning non working scanners and printers into plant/seed trays. Also we have a number of artists that take components from the unusable kit and turn them into works of art. One of which is to feature in a Channel 4 production, called ‘Dumped’.
FRP-REUSEiT is a successful proactive computer recycling project that now supplies rebuilt PC within 4 weeks of a customer request.
The Future:
The future looks bright for FRP-REUSEiT.
We can and will continue in our aims to reduce the amount of computer equipment being dumped into landfill sites by taking these unwanted machines and reusing them in the VCO sector. In the next year we hope to at least double our computer turnover. The latest contract with Waltham Forest will allow us to achieve this and several other companies we are talking to could bring the figure to 1000 machines a year. If this happens we will be able to expand our workforce and supply many more organisations with PCs they never thought they could afford.
If you would like to help us supply more organisations with PCs then tell your IT Director about us.
As part of FRP, a not for profit social enterprise we are also supported by many volunteers. Some help us for the good of the local community, some come on Government funded work experience schemes and some just come because they like what we do and get to play with large amounts of computer equipment. Many of the volunteers who come to us (to date there have been 41) are looking to gain work experience, either by being on a government scheme or volunteering independently. At least 4 volunteers have gone on to find full time employment. 