An innovative eco-project tackling electronic waste in the Clay Country has been selected by a panel of sustainability experts to receive a £45,000 grant from a national scheme.

Stenalees-based Treverbyn Community Trust has converted its “Really Lovely Van” into a mobile electronics repair centre, which will travel to hard-to-reach areas across the county to offer local residents a repair service.

Its first official outing is tomorrow morning [Friday] in Rescorla between 10am and 2pm. Residents are invited to bring electrical items needing repair and meet the team for a piece of cake.

The team will bring a range of tools, volunteers and expertise to each stop, including showcasing lower-cost open-source devices such as Raspberry Pi. It will also collect unwanted electrical items across the county and redistribute them to people who need refurbished items to stay connected.

The van will tour local communities and parishes in the China Clay area; and further afield, promoting digital access and electrical waste prevention at summer festivals. The next event will be on Saturday, July 15 at TrevFest, the trust’s annual fundraising event, followed by: Rock Oyster Festival, Wadebridge on July 27; Boardmasters, Newquay on August 9; Cornwall Folk Festival, Wadebridge on August 24; and Geek Fest, Heartlands on August 26. For further details of future dates, visit www.thehall.org.uk

The trust was one of 10 national winners to be awarded a share of £500,000 from the Time After Time fund, created by Virgin Media O2 and environmental charity Hubbub in response to the growing environmental impact of e-waste – the fastest growing waste stream in the world. The UK produces more electrical waste per person than any other country in the world with the exception of Norway.

Trust development officer Nick Waitz said: “This generous fund is enabling our mobile service to reach remote hamlets and villages. We'll bring know-how and positivity to the issue of waste electricals. The most ecological items are the ones you own, let's keep them working!”

Dana Haidan, chief sustainability officer at Virgin Media O2, said: “A staggering amount of tech ends up in landfill, and more than 19 million unused smartphones and laptops are gathering dust in homes and garages across the country. The Time After Time 2023 fund is focused on cutting e-waste, and supporting digital inclusion by putting unused devices in the hands of people who need them.

“We encourage groups, charities and social enterprises across Cornwall to apply for a grant of up to £100,000 so we can fund innovative projects which help to protect the planet.”

Fund applications close on Friday, October 20, 2023. www.timeaftertimefund.org.uk