Redistribute and reuse

A collaboration between Cumbrian-based companies helps keep usable building materials in circulation, supporting local projects and reducing waste.

Anyone who watched UK children’s TV in the 1970s will likely fondly remember The Wombles – a show about fictional, furry creatures who collected rubbish from their local environment and put it to good use. What is less likely is that anyone could have foreseen that 50 years later this recycling and reuse of rubbish has become an economic and ecological imperative. The Wombles was ahead of its time.

In much the same way, The Rebuild Site, a Cumbrian-based community interest company, is also ahead of its time.

On any housing development, leftover materials can arise for many reasons: materials damaged in transit, off-cuts, part packs of bricks or tiles or items no longer needed as work progresses. The Rebuild Site collects and redistributes surplus construction materials to ensure usable items are kept in circulation rather than going to waste.

Emma Porter, its founder, was moved to take action by the amount of nearly new and surplus materials being wasted. The organisation helps contractors, local authorities and community groups find practical ways to reuse them.

Since the organisation’s launch in 2021, it has supported more than 280 community projects and helped more than 20,000 people across Cumbria and south-west Scotland. Examples include providing timber to create raised beds for residents in Harraby Community Garden; donating timber to build 38 feeding stations for endangered red squirrels​ in Caldew conservation initiative; and, through Prism Arts Workshops, donating plywood to enable local artists and people with additional needs to create a stunning public art piece in Carlisle​. The Rebuild team also works closely with visitors, offering advice and practical guidance on the use of reclaimed materials.

Partnership working

Looking at ways to move materials away from being unnecessarily sent through down-cycling routes and landfill puts the organisation in contact with the construction industry. Porter says: “We work with several contractors and housing developers across the county, and partnerships like this help local projects reduce waste and make a real difference for the environment and the people who live here.”

One such partnership is with Scotland and Cumbria-wide housebuilders Story Homes. It’s an ongoing partnership, passing materials on so they can benefit local households, tradespeople and community initiatives.

Story Homes’ Hayley Blair says: “Seeing how the surplus materials from our sites are being reused really brings the partnership to life. By continuing our partnership with The Rebuild Site, we’re taking a simple step that delivers real benefits. Not only are we reducing waste from our developments, but we’re also supporting local projects and encouraging sustainable practices across our business.”

The Rebuild Site’s ultimate aim is to see all building materials reused at the end of a building’s life and for all materials put into new buildings to be reusable. As the Wombles say: “Making good use of the things that we find, things that the everyday folks leave behind.” 

For more information about The Rebuild Site, visit: rebuildsite.co.uk
For more information about Story Homes, visit: storyhomes.co.uk