What do people need for allotments?

I run a blog and a garden design company.

In my day to day goings I see so much timber etc going into skips that landscapers throw away. I know some of it could be very handy to allotment holders.

Landscapers wouldn't go the extra mile at the end of day and would need stuff picked up. Is there somewhere online etc I can list whats going free for collection?

 

There's Freecycle, but I don't think that's open to trade.

 

Might be cost effective to list it on eBay for 1p ? It will get plenty of coverage, at least. Presumably landscapers are paying for "Muck away" do reducing the amount of stuff in a skip is actually a cost saving (although there is the "cost" of the hassle of listing it, and some punters letting you down)

 

It's a good idea to put it on eBay I'm a builder and have a allotment so can see both side the thing some times is it cost you the same to let some one have it as it would to skip it you get people not taking it all so you need a skip still or making mess getting it to there car and have to clean it up or people not been there so you then have to wait or stuff is in your way so most people just get rid

 

I take as much as I can for my plot or for others on my site

 

I think time will come when folk pay more attention to waste and thus recycle / reuse. Can't keep raping the planet for resources ...

I don't have the answer though, except that people around me seem surprised at the lengths I will go to to prevent something just becoming landfill

 

There are sites for trade but I can't remember what they are called

 

Why not simply join Freecycle as an 'individual'? Are members going to refuse stuff they want if when they turn up to collect they suspect you're in business?

Usual stuff would be any timber for constructions, posts, down to battens for pegs to mark rows. If replacing decking with paving/something else the boards make great raised beds plus the joists are good for all sorts of things, and if taking up pavings they are great for laying under sheds and coldframes.

Old bricks or are useful for plinths around the perimeter of coldframes.

Excess topsoil is always handy, and I've even taken away clay because I could dig topsoil out from pathways to use elsewhere and replace with clay.

Sometimes I've virtually emptied skips

 

A couple of options Scott.

1. Approach an allotment site and see if they have somewhere people could drop stuff off or a contact there who could collect.

2. And probably the best would be to approach NSALG (National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners) and explain as you have here. Maybe they could setup a national notice board for their members, and thereby the two of you could start a new recycling avenue, on a national scale, these things can be quick to get going and grow! http://www.nsalg.org.uk/

3. If your within 50 miles of Cockermouth CUMBRIA, pm me !

4. Let people here know where you are based, there might be some members in your area who could help

5. Don't throw it away!

Good luck!

Steve...

 

We did this once on our site a few years ago,It was fine to start with but soon turned into a dumping ground.We had 2 very good contacts who only brought good clean stuff ,but some of the not so good brought rubbish after dark .One was caught and told in no uncertain terms what to do with his rubbish our face trouble,after this we had to call a halt to everybody.

 

Don't forget Gumtree.com. Open to trade and you can list for free.

 

You never bring me any thing

 

You don't deserve any mate lol

 

I was wondering this. Where the hell are you supposed to find unwanted timber etc?