From next month, residents will be able to borrow a range of useful household items from a Library of Things, helping to reduce waste, fight the climate emergency and save money too.
Library of Things is a place where residents can hire items for a small fee and return them once they have finished using them, helping to tackle the climate crisis and avoid sending waste to landfill. The Library of Things will be set up in Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre from June, providing almost 40 items ranging from carpet cleaners, jet washers and drills, to wallpaper strippers and tents.
It works in a similar way to a normal library – you register, reserve the item online, borrow your item and then return it.
Circular economy
There are also handy online guides to help people learn practical skills like DIY and repair. Ealing is consistently in the top three boroughs in London when it comes to recycling, but we need to try harder to avoid waste in the first place. Circular economy solutions like the Library of Things can help residents take that step.
The council has also announced a new circular economy hub at Stirling Road in Acton which will be a centre for re-use, repair and upcycling.
Top performer for recycling
Councillor Deirdre Costigan, deputy leader and cabinet member for climate action, said: “We promised to open a Library of Things in Ealing as part of our work to tackle the climate crisis and reduce waste. From wallpaper strippers to electric drills, lots of us have attics, cupboards and sheds full of items we’ve bought but only used once. Imagine how much carbon we could save if we borrowed from the Library of Things instead – and it might help clear out those cupboards!
“Ealing is a top performer for recycling and now we’re aiming to be a top performer in the low waste circular economy too. The new Library of Things is a great value solution for residents who are struggling financially in the cost-of-living crisis, while also helping to reduce the harmful emissions that come from making so many consumer products we only use once.”
Rebecca Trevalyan, co-founder and co-director of Library of Things, added: “We’ve had lots of interest in Library of Things from Ealing residents and organisations – so we’re excited that they’ll soon be able to borrow quality items like Bosch drills, Kärcher pressure washers and STIHL hedge trimmers for a few pounds per day. This is an important step for Library of Things, as we expand our work to create a community-led circular economy in neighbourhoods across London.”
Andrew Rollings, centre director at Ealing Broadway, said: “We’re proud to be opening Library of Things here at Ealing Broadway. It’s an opportunity for the local community to come and hire whatever items they need which otherwise may not be accessible.
“Supporting our local community and encouraging sustainable shopping are hugely important for us – our recent clothes and uniform swap shops have proven incredibly popular with our shoppers, and welcoming Library of Things is the next step in continuing to offer support for sustainable and low-cost solutions. Whether hiring a carpet cleaner, tent or even a lawnmower, we know that it will be invaluable for our shoppers.”
Register your details to start reserving items on the Library of Things website from Monday 3 June, and collect from Tuesday 11 June.
