The Revaluit store is in the heart of the city centre at the bottom of North Street and opens its doors on 11 March 2022.
Circular economy thinking
Founded on circular economy thinking, Tech-Takeback started in 2016 and is now busier than ever.
Collecting and receiving donations of unwanted gadgets, and in turn, refurbishing and re-distributing them to schools, charities and families.
The project ensures that everyone can have access to digital technology, while keeping lots of unused and unwanted gadgets from going to waste.
So far, over 30 tonnes of older electrical items have been saved from going to waste – 5 times heavier than an elephant!
Since opening, over 30,000 items have been collected with over 6,500 household electricals going to new homes, via charity partners including Digital Brighton & Hove, Refugee Radio, and Freegle.
Recycling electricals is essential
It’s essential we dispose of electronic waste responsibly, via routes such as Tech-Takeback, Revaluit or local recycling centres.
Millions of components each year are lost that can be re-used. Electrical items contain a range of materials that can be separated for recycling and used in new products, such as plastics and precious metals.
In doing this it saves both resources and energy, while preventing nasty toxins leaching into the environment, which in turn infest soil and water, contaminating wildlife and crops.
Some technology, such as batteries are combustible, which also pose a real risk of fire or injury.
The next step
Revaluit, Tech-Takeback’s new venture, is the next step in this fantastic circular economy initiative.
The stock to be sold has all been donated for reuse by the community through the RevaluElectricals collection scheme, data erased (where neccessary) and repaired by the fantastic staff and volunteers from Tech-Takeback.
Funded through the government’s KickStart Apprenticeship scheme, Tech-Takeback currently has four apprentices working within the business. They are busy learning the skills to enable them to undertake repairs confidently.
Developing their expertise will ensure that more refurbished products are available in the shop for everyone to purchase.
Revaluit – a shop with a difference
Revaluit is definitely a shop with a difference, selling products with a guide price rather than a fixed one and encouraging customers to pay what they can afford, giving customers a different experience of purchasing refurbished electricals.
Co-founder and Managing Director of Tech-Takeback, Professor David Greenfield, is excited to see The Revaluit Shop benefit the residents and businesses within the city.
David said: “Naturally, the Revaluit shop was the next step for our RevaluElectricals service for Tech-Takeback.
“The RevaluElectricals collection service has been such a success since launching and through the Revaluit shop we now can offer everyone in the city access to good quality, refurbished products at a price they can afford to pay.”
“Tech-Takeback is a not-for-profit organisation and all the funds raised from the sale of the refurbished goods in the Revaluit shop will be reinvested back into the business.
“This will enable more good quality refurbished products to be collected, refurbished and sold.
“But we couldn’t do this without the support of the council and the community. We’re always looking for donations of unwanted electronics and gadgets.
“You can either jump on the app to arrange collection, or bring them to the Revaluit shop, where you can have a look around at the same time!”
Councillor Amy Heley, co-chair of the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee said:
“Tech-Takeback has been a brilliant scheme for reusing and recycling older electrical items and preventing many tonnes of still valuable resources going to waste.
“I’ve used the scheme a few times myself to donate some of my unused electricals and have been very impressed – it’s so easy and great to know that others will benefit too.
“It’s a fantastic example of the circular economy initiative in action. So many businesses, charities and residents have already benefited, and it’s very exciting to see the Revaluit store open to expand the scheme.
“This will make it even easier to recycle your old gadgets and will offer many more people the opportunity to purchase good quality gadgets at a price affordable to them.
“The pop-up events and workshops are great knowledge sharing opportunities, giving the community the chance to dismantle gadgets and learn how to put them back together too.”
So, if you’re on the look-out for technology, instead of buying new, why not pop down to Revaluit and see what’s on offer?
And clear out your drawers and take your old gadgets for recycling at the same time!