Wombling Info
This is a basic breakdown on places where to look and how to go about gaining materials for free [or very cheap]
this will get updated weekly as i go through where i go to get mine
First for all you skip divers - skips by law you must have the hiree's permission to remove anything from a skip be it a building site or a private location a simple knock on the door or see one of the staff ask properly don't go in saying I want as this wont work and make sure they know what you take and when you leave let them know
Recycling centers - a lot of sites now don't allow you to remove anything even if you offer to pay for the item although some have a dedicated selling area and you can barter with them and ask them to keep an eye out for certain items [donations of donuts and biscuits help here]
Commercial premises - if you see it or not it is always worth asking what they have to throw out ask them for wood - pallets - packaging - old stock etc you may be surprised
Private locations - if you see a trailer full or just a pile of rubbish ask if its going free and if you can have a look through it also surplus building materials are a good one to be on the look out for if you can use them
Screws - nails - speak to various builders ask them to keep any old screws - nails or fixings back and offer beer to the best ones for a guaranteed regular supply
Feed merchants and greengrocers - a great source of out of date feeds and grains for livestock
Pallets - pretty much a staple of numerous projects - pretty much anywhere there is a forklift you can get pallets
Manure - any stable or farm will have manure it is the persuading them to let you have it is the hard bit but best to speak to the owners and forget the yard hands as they usually just say no to cover there backsides
Drift wood - flotsam - yes you can buy it but we prefer to collect our own from any where there is water sea or fresh water and best times are always just after a storm
Rope - speak to any rigger - rope merchant - chandler see if they have any rope heading for the bin - skip and see if hy will let you have it
MY CODE OF WOMBLING basic things to do or not do to get a successful womble
1 - make sure you have permission to take what you want to take
2 - if collecting large quantities of "waste" make sure you are doing it legally and get a waste carriers licence it is a cheap investment and could save a lot of hassle
3 - don't make a mess when collecting materials any materials you are not taking leave tidy
4- wear gloves - safety glasses - hi-vis vest - steel toe cap foot wear
5- the most important don't keep asking for materials only ask once if its a no its a no if its a yes your in the door and can ask to return if they have more waste or ask to come regularly
6- don't wear a hoodie or dress to tidy [its a weird one but camy trousers and a t shirt work best]