Recycle any unwanted mobility kit
A NEW initiative is being offered at Ashbourne’s recycling centre, encouraging people to bring unwanted mobility equipment to be reused by people who need it.
Equipment to help people live more independently at home is delivered to residents on behalf of the county council by a company called Medequip. Kit delivered ranges from wheelchairs and “rise and recline” chairs to small aids like Zimmer frames, walking sticks and toilet frames.
Ashbourne’s Mayfield Road recycling centre is one of five which will act as a new collection point for the items, which can be dropped off by residents ready for collection by Medequip.
Council bosses say that, as well as providing a more convenient alternative for some people, it also reduces the number of journeys Medequip has to make to collect items from individual homes which helps cut carbon emissions.
Cabinet member for Adult Care Natalie Hoy said: “We know demand for this sort of equipment is high and the scheme will help to collect the smaller equipment and get it back on the shelves and reused as quickly as possible.
“This helps support vulnerable people in our community which is a priority for us.
“And there are environmental benefits too. Reducing the miles travelled by Medequip and making sure equipment doesn’t go to waste takes us one step closer on our journey to helping Derbyshire reduce its carbon emissions to net zero by 2050 or sooner.
“I look forward to the scheme being extended to our recycling centres across the whole county.”
So far 450 items have been recovered from the recycling centres and of these 350 (78%) were returned to warehouse shelves for re-use with just the remaining 100 going for recycling.
Larger pieces of equipment, including electrical kit, will continue to be collected by Medequip from people’s homes.
Steve Smith, regional general manager at Medequip said: “Vital equipment also supports our NHS with hospital discharges, so people can return to their home environment with equipment in place to help with daily living.
“Working in partnership with Derbyshire County Council’s Household Waste Recycling Centres allows residents to have the option to return equipment that is no longer needed at their convenience and this enables us to support others who require that equipment.
“All items returned will be thoroughly cleaned, assessed, safety tested and either repaired and reused or stripped down for recycling.”
To find out more visit www. derbyshire.gov.uk/recycling