18 Jan Local ‘Bring it to Win it’ winner donates prize to domestic abuse charity
A Billericay man who won a £250 voucher to spend at a local charity that refurbishes household electrical appliances and furniture for resale has donated his prize to a domestic abuse charity.
Phil Withers, 35, of Copperfield, entered the prize draw when he donated a television at the Barleylands Recycling Centre during the weekend of 5 and 6 January.
Residents were offered the chance to win a £250 voucher as part of Basildon Council’s campaign to encourage refurbishment and reuse of electrical items.
Every electrical item donated was entered into a prize draw to win a £250 voucher to be spent at the Lighthouse Furniture Project in Brentwood.
Phil, who is married with two children and works as a paramedic, said he was inspired to donate the prize to the Safer Places domestic abuse charity through his mum who is involved in a voluntary organisation that support the charity.
He added: “So much can end up in a black sack so any opportunity to reduce waste going to landfill is good. We live in such a throw-away society so it’s good if we can reuse items where possible. I’m also pleased to be able to help local charities.”
Outlets have been open across the borough since February where people can donate unwanted electrical items for refurbishment and reuse.
Basildon Council, in partnership with Lighthouse Furniture Project, has been collecting unwanted electrical items at its WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) reuse outlet at the recycling centre at Barleylands.
Items eligible for donation include: Mobile phones and chargers, VCRs and Digi boxes, CD players and radios, remote controls and electronic toys, headphones, Hairdryers and hair straighteners, hair trimmers and shavers, power showers and facial saunas, electric toothbrushes, Kettles and coffee machines, irons and toasters.
Larger items such as fridges, freezers, cookers, washing machines dishwashers, microwaves, hoovers and lawnmowers can also be donated across the weekend.
To find out more visit: www.basildon.gov.uk/reuse
