About Freeuse LA

What is Freeuse LA?

Freeuse LA has been developed by the Leicestershire Waste Partnership to provide an easy way to allow Local Authorities and schools in Leicestershire to reuse unwanted items, such as stationery and office furniture. Not only will this help reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill but it will also help save money by reducing the need to purchase new items. Staff from Leicestershire Local Authorities and schools can use Freeuse LA to advertise items they no longer need or to get items that they can put to good use. All items offered on the site are free, though the giver and taker will need to make their own collection arrangements. Why not give an unwanted office item a new lease of life?

Why has Freeuse LA been developed?

Freeuse LA has come about for a number of reasons including:

• Amount of waste reusable items that have been produced because of the accommodation moves, in particular stationery items and furniture.
• The success of the main Freeuse site for residents – www.freeuseit.org
• The commitment within many Leicestershire local authority Environmental Policies to reduce the amount of waste they send to landfill.
• The need to save money in the current economic environment.
• Because local authority staff have asked if such a facility could be provided.

How did it all start?

In June 2008 Waste Management officers from North West Leicestershire District Council developed Freeuse on their Council's own website. The concept of Freeuse was to provide Leicestershire residents with a free, simple, and easy to use site that allowed reusable items to be given a new lease of life. It proved so popular that other Councils within the Leicestershire Waste Partnership wanted to be part of the Freeuse success and so the original Freeuse site underwent a thorough makeover to improve the functionality and design of the site and was re-launched in November 2009. By May 2010 the site had already prevented over 14 tonnes of waste going to landfill. Following on from the success of Freeuse the concept of Freeuse LA was born - to provide a site that allowed local authorities and schools in Leicestershire to give and take unwanted office items within and between each other. Therefore, reducing the amount of reusable items going to landfill.

Who owns the site?

The website is owned and operated by the Leicestershire Waste Partnership. The partnership is made up of the seven Leicestershire Districts or Borough Councils and the County Council.