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It’s Sustainable September in Wandsworth, so here is a Recycle More Southfields list of six ways to live sustainably, that are right on our doorstep.




1. Borrow items from the Library of Things in Southside Shopping Centre

Pros: affordable, easy to borrow and no need to store them at home

Cons: Occasionally you may need to wait for an item if it’s on loan


You can borrow everything from steam cleaners to tents, extendable ladders to projectors, tile cutters to circular saws, sewing machines to strimmers.

The process is very easy to follow.


The Library of Things Wandsworth has the same opening hours as Southside Centre. Located opposite Waterstones.




2. Mend, fix and repair your items with Southfields Mend, Fix and Repair Cafe

Pros: extend the life of your things for a small donation

Cons: Southfields Mend, Fix and Repair Café only takes place a few time a year


Bring your broken or faulty things to Southfields Mend, Fix and Repair café and for a small donation a group of local volunteers will try to fix them for you!


The next Southfields Mend, Fix and repair Café will take place during Southfields Harvest Festival at St Barnabas Church on Sat 28 September from 12 till 3pm.

You can bring small household items, electricals, clothes, bikes and more.

One item per person. Last registration at 2:30pm.


Insta: @southfields_mend_fix_repair




3. Refill your beauty and cleaning products at St Michael’s Church Café and Refill station

Pros: close by in Southfields and you can get a cup of coffee at St Michael’s Café while you are there.

Cons: more expensive, compared to the usual brands.


The Refill station has: shampoo, body and hand wash, washing up liquid, laundry liquid, all-purpose cleaner refill.


Monday to Thursday 8:30am - 5pm

Friday 8:30am - 2pm

Saturday 9am - 12pm




4. Recycle your small electricals

Pros: very easy to recycle – Wandsworth residents can recycle old toasters, hairdryers or other small electricals at kerbside on your recycling day. Southfields and Wandsworth libraries now also have a pink bin for these too.

Cons: none


You no longer need to take your small electrical items to the local tip for recycling. You can recycle them outside your front door: just put your small electricals on top of your closed black bin. In addition, pink small electricals bins are now available throughout the borough. Our closest one is at Southfields Library.


Kerbside guideline is here.



5. Get rid of your hazardous waste properly

Pros: throwing away hazardous waste like paints and solvents in a responsible way. Free.

Cons: need to fill in a form – but it’s a small price to pay for doing the right thing.


The City of London Hazardous waste collection is a free collection service for residents, covering most London boroughs. Follow these easy steps:


  • Gather your hazardous waste, such as paints, solvents, garden sprays.

  • Fill in a form (you will need your Council Tax number!)

  • Put it all in a box.

  • Waste Collectors will contact you with the collection date.

  • Leave it by your front door on that day.


You can arrange up to 4 such collections a year.


6. Join your local library

Pros: free books

Cons: none


You can borrow up to 15 book to read. Children don’t get late returns fines. And you can renew online!


Joining a library saves you from taking a risk on a book, buying it and feeling bad if you didn’t like it. It also supports this vital service. The library’s performance is primarily evaluated on the number of books being borrowed. So, use it or lose it.!


Library staff are extremely knowledgeable and fantastic at recommending books to read. Libraries are also an important social role of community hubs.


Reading Allowed by Chris Paling is a great book about libraries. Highly recommend. (We borrowed it from Southfields Library).



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