Social enterprise turns rubbish into art

17th July 2009

Simon Harding

A small social enterprise in Blackburn is putting scraps, rubbish and odds and ends to good use, according to BBC Lancashire. Everything from wool and wallpaper to plastics and textiles are collected direct from suppliers by the Scrap Art Material Store (SAMS) and put on sale at SAM’s clean, orderly and well stocked shop in the town. The salvaged material is bought by schools, nurseries, craft and community groups at bargain prices.

This waste-not-want-not social entrepreneurship scheme cuts the amount of waste local businesses send to landfill, promotes recycling and provides affordable arts and craft materials for the local community.

Founded in 2005 and now managed by ex-landfill site worker, Joanne Mason, SAMS counts nearly 900 organisations as regular customers from all across the north of England. That number is set to rise as the recession hits the pockets of private craft groups and state funded organisations like schools and playgroups.
‘There has definitely been a change’, said Mason, ‘Once upon a time, teachers had to order from educational support catalogues – which can be extremely expensive. We are finding that supplies available from SAMS are helping their budgets and funding stretch further. It is definitely a cost effective source of reusable materials, from us’.

SAM operates on a not-for-profit basis, generating income from sales and a nominal membership fee from its customers. It also offers classes in sewing and card making.

As its manager is aware, the current downturn makes SAMS an increasingly important resource for the local community. It combines social entrepreneurship with an environmental conscience and good old fashioned thrift to create a small enterprise from which everybody involved benefits. 

See also: ‘Blackburn’s wonderland of waste’, BBC Lancashire, 1/7/09, available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/lancashire/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8128000/8128179.stm