Recycling and wise use of resources: we do lots of it ourselves.

We carefully manage assets, knowledge, waste, resources, gifts, ideas and time,  some in ways that are uniquely our own:

• We practice the usual kerbside recycling - glass, paper, plastic, green waste and cardboard;  shredded paper is given away, confidential papers are destroyed responsibly.
• In the office,  paper is used both sides or cut up for note paper, we re-use ring binders, manila folders and other office bits and pieces.
• Thanks to a grant from the First Sovereign Trust we now use recycled paper.
• We hold garage sales - a monthly fundraiser and local community service, recycling anything from furniture to books to clothing, household items,  tools and more  - all donated by clients, supporters and the general public. What is usable around the office we keep.  We use TradeMe and other sites for  anything that is likely to sell for more than we can get in the garage sales.
• We collect and sell Baxter boxes - these are sturdy cartons  in which patients have their dialysis supplies delivered. Patients flatten and collect them and distribute them  to local businesses in exchange for a donation, or deliver them  to our office from where they are sold.
• We always buy second hand office furniture - or upgrade from donated items and sell the old  things in our garage sale.
• We always purchase used recliner chairs for our loan pool for people on home dialysis, often they are donated once people find out what they are for.
• We redistribute dialysis trolleys. Initially these are  assembled by kidney society staff from plastic drawers on wheels, dismanatled umbrella poles and tent pegs and  sold to patients at cost. They  are often donated back when no longer needed, for us to pass on to other patients.
• We give away our umbrella covers - left over from our dialysis trolley assembly. These colourful nylon "skirts" are very popular with schools, and on the closing night of our annual dialysis camp.
• We pass on donated used wheelchairs, walking frames, walking sticks and other equipment.
• We create our own wellness programme equipment:  no cost exercise aids include cardboard rolls, pieces of plastic pipe, newsprint, bubble wrap, string, elastic and reject pantyhose.
• We carefully plan  home visit to minimise travel time and reduce petrol costs.
• We have just upgraded three office wall heaters donated to us by a school who have received a grant to upgrade to a heat pump.
• We actively source company left-overs and surplus stock, unwanted stationery and gifts - these are often donated and either used in the office, or for fundraising.
• We have supportive trades people who are always on the lookout for quality used materials to save us money. We have a recycled ramp and a recycled hand rail at our dialysis house, and recycled light fittings in our garage.
• We collect batteries, printer cartridges, "HazMobil" items,  computer equipment etc. and do the right thing with it all.
• We recycle and redistribute knowledge, experience and ideas  shared by patients with our staff, and passed on to other patients,  locally and nationally through our magazines,  on our website and in person.
• We share  community resources, looking for and referring to suitable specialist services  rather than doing everything ourselves.
• We use only second hand towels and blankets at our dialysis house and all its furniture and household items are also second hand and donated.
• We give away leftover food, surplus clothing, books etc. to food banks and other organisations for distribution or fundraising.
• We allocate an hour's staff time a week to researching recycling and re-use opportunities - things others can give to us, things we can give to others.
• We support organ donation initiatives.

Wishes and plans:

• To move away from paper files for everything and to make wider use of pdf's.
• To always think before we print.
• To use cloth bags for shopping.
• To use eco brand cleaners.
• To use toilet paper and paper towels with recycled content.
• To purchase recycled stationery and copy paper next time we need some.
• To wish for hybrid cars, solar panels and  heat pumps for the office and the dialysis house.