County Durham Furniture Reuse Schemes

Just because you're buying new furniture it doesn't mean your old furniture can't have a new lease of life in someone elses home. Rather than taking it to the tip, talk to the County Durham Furniture Forum. This forum has just been set up to bring together the county's Furniture Reuse Schemes - some of which have been operating for around 30 years. Durham County Council now pay these reuse schemes a reuse credit which means instead of paying for the furniture to go to landfill sites the money can be given to help furniture reuse schemes run instead.

The forum can arrange to take away your old household furniture and household items that are in good condition. They then give or resell these items to people who are experiencing hardship or poverty. Your items can be taken away for free (or a small handling charge).

The Furniture Forum can take away your:

• Furniture
• Beds & mattresses
• Furnishings
• Carpets
• Curtains
• Ornaments/bric a brac
• Electrical appliances (in some cases)
• Gas appliances (in some cases)

Remember these organisations only want household goods that are reusable and therefore in good condition.

• District of Easington: East Durham Furniture Reuse; 0191 5184394/0191 5868493
• Borough of Sedgefield: ACTS Furniture project; 01388 420345
• Chester le Street and North Durham: Furniture and Fabric; 0191 3890888
• County Durham; County Durham Furniture Scheme; 01388 721509

These organisations can only accept upholstery that is fire retardant, please check first.

By reusing and distributing unwanted household effects the various groups in County Durham also bring meaningful job and volunteering opportunities, provide free collection of goods from private households and also divert waste from landfill.