The Worcester Resource Exchange (WRE) is a creative re-use charity that solves two problems at the same time.

Local manufacturing businesses while making things also end up with huge amounts of left over offcuts, trimmings and punch-outs. WRE arranges free regular pick-ups diverting many tonnes from landfill.

Private businesses have to pay to haul their waste away to landfill.

Once in landfill despite the best efforts some minerals leach into the groundwater and methane escapes into the atmosphere.

Besides, councils struggle to find sites for landfill. That’s a problem, but with WRE it isn’t waste – it’s a resource.

The materials in the scrapstore change constantly but they often have paper, felt, cardboard, shiny film, sticky backed foam, plastics, fabric, tubing and much, much more.

You never know what you might find there! WRE takes a bin of, say, plastic tubing and turns it into theatrical props for a youth production, limited only by one’s imagination.

There are many local people, such as childminders, artists, schools, community groups and families wanting inspirational and affordable materials for creative purposes.

WRE also provide training, volunteering and work opportunities for students, volunteers, the unemployed and people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

WRE can be found in Blackpole East, Unit F9 – see wre.uk.com for more details.