The Library of Things is coming in June to Ealing Broadway in partnership with Ealing Council. This is a place where you can borrow useful household items for DIY, cleaning, gardening, events, entertainment and more for a few pounds per day. Ealing Library of Things will be booking reservations from 3 June and open for collections from the end of June. You’ll be able to affordably hire useful items like a pressure washer, tile cutter, and even a Nintendo 64, from a few pounds per day.
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Around 40 items will be available, including:
- Carpet cleaners
- Drills
- Jet Washers
- Wall strippers
- Tents
Ealing residents will rent various items for a small fee and return them after use. Ideal for occasional use, addressing storage constraints and budget limitations, this initiative fights the climate crisis by minimizing landfill waste.
Why buy when you can borrow?
A Library of Things encourages sharing, the ability to try before you buy, and access to rarely used household items. By borrowing, renting or sharing products instead of buying new ones, we can protect our fragile ecosystems and help keep the fossil fuels in the ground. Electronic waste is a serious issue in the UK. The UK ranks second to Norway in the most e-waste produced a new study has found. So the more we use services like Library of Things, borrow and share the less that ends up as electrical waste.
How does the library work?
It works in a similar way to a book library, its so easy:
- Join and reserve: Browse the Things online and make a reservation and set up payment to borrow.
- Borrow and return it: Collect your Thing. Use it. Then return it when you’re done.
- Track your impact: See how much waste you’ve saved from landfill by borrowing instead of buying.
The Kiosk will be open in June in the Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre near Lola’s Cup Cakes!
By borrowing instead of buying, customers have said:
“I’ve saved money”
“I’ve transformed my home”
“I’ve stopped buying cheap stuff from Amazon”
For more about the Library of the Things Mission and impact
Councillor Deirdre Costigan, deputy leader and cabinet member for climate action, said: “We promised to open a Library of Things in Ealing as part of our work to tackle the climate crisis and reduce waste. From wallpaper strippers to electric drills, lots of us have attics, cupboards and sheds full of items we’ve bought but only used once. Imagine how much carbon we could save if we borrowed from the Library of Things instead – and it might help clear out those cupboards!”
The Library of Things is not just for Ealing residents, it’s for everyone!
Circular Economy the focus for Ealing Council
The council has also announced a new circular economy hub at Stirling Road in Acton which will be a centre for re-use, repair and upcycling. It will work to reduce emissions as there will be less electronic waste and you can save money through re-use.
For more information about this initiative and if you would like to sign up to the newsletter, click here.
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