More about the Foursquare/EFI Reuse Project

The project started in March 2005 (in partnership with City of Edinburgh Council) to secure a long-term source of good quality re-usable items diverted from Community Recycling Centres in Edinburgh.

Since its launch over 163.5 tonnes of items have been diverted from landfill and recycling, equating to over 8,900 items being passed on for reuse.

Items distributed by EFI have been and will continue to be given free to new tenants in Edinburgh, who through poverty are unable to furnish their homes. In 2005/06 EFI made 1,625 deliveries directly benefiting 2,608 people (including 677 children & young people).

Everyone's a winner

Work on this project with other community groups and the local authority is going someway way to meeting this demand now and in the future while at the same time diverting quality items from landfill.

This is a win-win situation for both the people who need our service, our community and the environment.

This unique, innovative multi-partnership approach, is working with 10 community based partners and the local authority, hence this project has far reaching benefits deep into local communities.

As well as the direct benefit to local people in terms of donated goods, this project has also increased the number of quality employment, training and volunteering opportunities available to local people and building the capacity and skills base of all employees working with the project.