Mull and Iona Environmentally Sensitive Solutions

Construction of the Community Business Resource Centre, adjacent to Craignure Castaways shop, will begin on Monday 23th May.  Staff at the Craignure shop are appealing to Mull residents to bear with the short term disruption.

Community Trust Chief Executive, James Hilder, explained, "We are all excited about having a new shop next year but, in the meantime, with a building site next door to the current shop we will have to change operations slightly.  Parking will be very limited so we can't take 'on-site' donations of furniture at Craignure for the next 12 months, however home collection can be arranged by contacting us as we're still happy to take furniture in good condition."  

Charity Shop Manager, Hazel Cowe added "The shop will still be open as normal and we will continue to take donations of clothes, books, DVD's and other domestic goods, but donors with any electrical items will have to drop them off at the Bunessan shop.  As space will be limited furniture will not be sold at the Craignure shop, rather a monthly sale will take place in the Craignure area, which we'll advertise locally".  The Trust hopes to list photos of furniture for sale on this website for customers to preview.

Every year the shop generates thousands of pounds to donate to local community groups on Mull and Iona and is well supported by local residents and visitors alike.  While space restrictions will limit operations for the next 12 months, staff are confident that they will still be able to offer the same great range of goods even though space will be tight.  The Island Castaways in Bunessan will operate as normal. 

Anyone wishing to donate furniture, or wanting to check items for donation, can call Island Castaways on 01680 812526.  Hazel reminds customers, "Please remember that all donated soft funrnishings have to be fire retardant.  Also, clothes, fabrics, shoes and soft toys can be donated at the recycling banks.  Domestic electrical goods that no longer work can be dropped off (free of charge) at the Ardmore Civic Amenity Site north of Tobermory on the Glengorm Road. 

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To find out more about the kerbside recycling scheme for Mull and Iona, including calanders for recyclate pick-up , please click here.  If you would like to know when you will have your recyclate collected please contact the local Argyll & Bute Council office on 01688 302051

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Have you claimed you FREE jute shopping bag yet?

If not, then pop into either of the Island Castaways shops in Bunessan or Craignure, or the Community Trust office in Tobermory.   Please note that only one bag per household will be distributed and that you will be asked to sign for it so that we can monitor the distribution. Additional bags are available to purchase from both charity shops for £4
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'MESS', is a partnership, led by the Mull and Iona Community Trust, (MICT), in association with Argyll and Bute Council, Mull and Iona Waste Watchers, the local Chamber of Commerce, The GRAB Trust, The Iona Community, ACHA and Mull and Iona Community Councils. 'Mull and Iona Environmentally Sensitive Solutions' ('MESS'), seeks to engage the islands' communities in practical activities to reduce and minimise local waste. The 'MESS' Project aims to demonstrate that local benefits can come from new waste disposal methods to recover value from material diverted from landfill.

The MESS project was started with funding from the Community Economic Development Programme and the Fresh Futures Lottery fund. Current operations are funded through Transforming Waste Scotland and a contract agreement with Argyll & Bute Council. MICT employs one full time member of staff, along with six part time staff to promote and pursue more sustainable approaches to local waste management.
Everybody's behaviour, as waste producers, is set to change, as pressing environmental imperatives are translated into increasingly stringent regulations, and escalating disposal costs.