Wandsworth (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Wandsworth Council, in partnership with REWORK, Groundwork London, and WRWA, launches an online store to help residents shop sustainably and reduce waste.
Appliances that are broken or undesired are refurbished by REWORK and put up for sale at reasonable costs through its new online store.
As part of Wandsworth‘s goal to become a more sustainable, low-waste borough, the program helps decrease waste, lowers carbon emissions, and offers locals high-quality reconditioned goods at a reduced cost.
The opening of the online store expands on REWORK’s current service at Smugglers Way Household Waste and Recycling Centre, where a knowledgeable staff of technicians and apprentices repairs and tests donated goods.
Residents of Wandsworth have donated over 2,300 pieces of furniture and over 8,600 electrical items to Smugglers Way over the last five years, which have been renovated and repurposed. This amounts to about 160 tons, or around 13 double-decker buses.
Now open, the REWORK online store will be updated frequently with new inventory. Additionally, residents can still contribute good-condition, unwanted electrical goods to Smugglers Way.
One of Wandsworth’s main carbon net zero targets is waste reduction, which was recently acknowledged in a prestigious climate evaluation that placed Wandsworth among the top three authorities for climate action.
How will the new online store impact Wandsworth residents’ waste reduction efforts?
REWORK keeps broken or unneeded appliances out of the garbage by refurbishing and reselling them. Over the course of the last five years, over 160 tonnes of waste—more than 8,600 electrical devices and 2,300 pieces of furniture—have been renovated and repurposed.
Appliance longevity lowers production and disposal-related carbon emissions by reducing the need for new manufacturing.
By enabling all residents to purchase refurbished goods at reduced costs, the online store expands access beyond housing associations and local authorities, making sustainable choices more affordable.
With the help of a knowledgeable staff of technicians and apprentices, the program encourages a culture of repair and reuse, which supports local job creation and skill development.