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Edinburgh Remakery – Tech Donation Box

Posted: 24th March 2022

Since November 2021, the Edinburgh Remakery’s very first Tech Donation Box has been hosted by the Filmhouse Cinema. Placed in their foyer and easily accessible to members of the public, its purpose is to help people pass on their unwanted laptops, phones, tablets, cameras and chargers for them to be refurbished and repaired, instead of being thrown away This first trial of our Tech Donation Box has proved to be a huge success, and has pushed The
Edinburgh Remakery to expand our donation box portfolio across Edinburgh, working with organisations and businesses from all corners of the city to tackle electronic waste. Our partnership with the Filmhouse Cinema has allowed a large quantity of second hand tech to be collected so that it can be refurbished and reused rather than sent to a landfill where it can cause irreversible pollution.

The Tech Donation Box also has a social benefit, as it directly helps to fuel our Tech Gifting programme by supplying us with laptops and other electronic devices which we can then repair and donate to marginalised communities across the city who need it most. This regifting service helps to provide a more equal, fair and accessible culture for those living in digital poverty by giving them the tools that so many people take for granted. Additionally, the project is helping to educate people on effective e-waste reduction and is an important step in reducing the number of usable electronics that are being mismanaged and ending up harming our natural environment.

During our collaboration with the Edinburgh Filmhouse, they have saved 25,092 Kg C02e since November – this is the equivalent of 3,052,257 smartphones being fully charged! By working together on this circular economy scheme we are actively implementing projects with the long-lasting positive impact that will aid our city in meeting Edinburgh’s Net Zero Carbon Targets by ensuring materials and products are reused effectively before the end of their lifecycle.
Electronic waste is one of the fastest-growing and most polluting waste streams in the UK, and our Tech Donation Boxes give the public an easy, convenient way of safely disposing of their electronic devices whilst overcoming obstacles they may face in trying to reach alternative recycling facilities.

Our goal is to have multiple Tech Donation Boxes placed across the city, giving this innovative initiative a wider coverage and greater positive impact, making this sustainable option accessible and available to even more people! The Tech Donation Box was made in collaboration with SEG Pack, a fellow Edinburgh Chamber member that specialises in sustainable packaging innovation. The box has been specially designed to offer a safe and secure means for people to donate their unwanted tech in a way that avoids any damage to the products donated. We are now looking for Edinburgh organisations to host and sponsor our next Tech Donation Boxes. These can be placed within office spaces to instil a culture of sustainability within a workplace, or in an area open to the public where people can easily drop off their old devices.

Our Tech Donation Boxes are convenient and easy to manage, with The Edinburgh Remakery providing regular free collections of donated items at agreed times, Get in touch with us to find out more about our hosting and sponsorship opportunities by emailing moray.donn@edinburghremakery.org.uk The Edinburgh Remakery are very proud to be working as an Edinburgh Chamber member to help the city meet its Net Zero Targets, and we look forward to all the future collaborations that will come as part of this amazing project.

Business Comment

Business Comment is the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce’s bi-monthly magazine. It provides insight on Edinburgh’s vibrant business community, with features on the city’s key sectors, interviews with leading figures and news on new business developments in the capital.
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