Westmorland and Furness Council is hosting a take-back event with a difference from Monday 4 March to Thursday 7 March. For one week only, people can bring back unwanted aids for daily living to Penrith Town Hall where they will be collected, then cleaned and sanitised for reuse.
Due to a shortage of equipment as a result of supply chain issues, and with a desire to reuse valuable equipment rather than throwing it away, Westmorland and Furness Council’s Waste and Community Equipment Services have joined forces to appeal for people to return equipment such as commodes, toilet frames, bed levers, over-the-bed tables and shower chairs.
The council already has a service established so people can deliver aids for daily living to their local Household Waste Recycling Centre, but this latest event provides a convenient central location in Penrith for people to easily return unwanted or not needed equipment.
Westmorland and Furness Council's Community Equipment Service provides free equipment across the area to support people to help with normal daily tasks. This helps people to stay independent in their own homes, and the service desperately needs returns of equipment no longer in use.
Penrith Town Hall is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 9am to 5pm, and Wednesday 9am to 4pm. Any equipment being returned during these times can be left at reception.
Walking aids should still be returned to your local hospital.
Councillor Dyan Jones, Cabinet Member for Customer and Waste Services, said:
“People across the country are facing shortages of the essential equipment they need to stay as active and independent as possible.
“This is a great initiative which creates an easy way for people to return equipment that is no longer needed such as commodes, shower stools and over-bed tables, in a good, clean condition.
“You may have forgotten about equipment no longer needed, or do not know what to do with it, either way you can free up some space by returning the equipment easily and conveniently to Penrith Town Hall in early March, or to a local Household Waste and Recycling Centre after the take-back event has ended.
“Through hosting events such as this and offering a service at our household waste recycling centres, we will be able to help many more people continue to live in their own homes.”