Reused materials supporting innovation in coding and robotics

SUEZ manage the waste and recycling contract on behalf of Aberdeen City Council, which includes a reuse shop on Hazlehead HWRC.

The Reuse Shop officially opened in July 2022 with the support of funding from the Scottish Government’s Recycling Improvement Fund. Since opening the shop, more than 76,000 items have been diverted away from disposal, and last year a community reuse fund was launched, providing grants to schools and community groups looking to make environmental and wellbeing improvements benefiting the wider community across Aberdeen.

The Aberdeen City Libraries’ youth-led project, ‘Innovation Station’ project, will see the development of an exciting technology hub within Central Library, providing opportunities for communities to access emerging technologies. The project will enable Aberdeen City Libraries to upskill staff, young people and members of the wider community in key STEM areas of robotics, coding and digital literacy, improving their future employment opportunities and equipping them with the key skills needed as the UK transitions to a more circular economy. Aberdeen City Council’s Communities, Housing, and Public Protection Committee Convenor, Councillor Miranda Radley said: “The Reuse Shop at Hazlehead is about more than selling on good quality items brought to recycling centres. By supporting projects like this, which help young people learn and build new skills, it highlights the importance of putting communities at the heart of reuse services.”

Aberdeen City Council’s Education and Children’s Services Committee Convenor Councillor Martin Greig added: "There is a rapidly growing need to expand digital learning opportunities. This is an important partnership initiative from SUEZ which will benefit many young people."

Young people, aged 15-18years, will be developing the programme which teaches people the skills to repurpose the toys into robots. It is hoped the ‘innovation station’ and coding activities will be up and running for the school summer holidays.

Colin Forshaw, Production Operations Manager at SUEZ recycling and recovery UK, said, “SUEZ has always been a champion of reuse and so it’s fantastic to see projects like the ‘innovation station’ developing and utilising preloved toys to help to develop vital skills in re-use and repair. We have seen new generations embracing buying pre-owned or refurbished goods, often driven by environmental concerns. But the benefits are more than environmental. Projects like this show the wider benefit of learning new skills and opening up future job opportunities as a result, and it’s something we’re proud to be able to support. “