Tech Shack and The Repair Bench, two Coalville businesses, have launched enterprises to reduce the amount of unnecessary waste in the community. 

The restoration businesses, which can be found in the Coalville CAN building in Memorial Square, are benefiting the community in more ways than one.

Tech Shack has launched an E-waste restoration service, as well as a mobile tech solutions project, while The Repair Bench has a tool library and a scheme called Men in Sheds. 

Harry Perkins, who is the founder of Tech Shack, takes in old technical devices such as laptops and computers and restores them to working condition so that they can be donated to schools, charities, or families in need.

Technical devices that cannot be restored to a good condition are broken down and sold for parts - the money is then used to support other projects at Coalville CAN. 

Harry said: 'There's a massive problem with E-waste, a lot of people take things to the tip, and they don't realise that there's usually a value to everything. 

"Although it's no value for them, it could go a long way for the community once it's broken down and cleaned up."

He has also recently started a mobile tech solutions initiative to help vulnerable people in the community with any technical issues they might be having. 

"Although it's no value for them, it could go a long way for the community once it's broken down and cleaned up."

Harry added: 'When I started the Tech Shack two months ago, I had, and I'm still getting, a lot of phone calls and people coming in and asking if I can fix their printer or have a look at their laptop so I can see there's a need for mobile tech solutions.

"I'm now looking at the logistics of that and how that can work in the community."

Harry's future plans for the Tech Shack include starting a digital education centre where he will offer courses on technology basics, and more advanced classes on subjects such as web design, cyber security and coding. 

He also wants to offer training so that people can learn how to repair their own devices instead of throwing them away. 

Harry said: "I want this to get to a point where people can volunteer and come and learn how to repair things so that we can all tackle e-waste together."

Harry explained that, with the constant evolution of technology, there is more E-waste than ever he wants to change that within the local community. 

Ken Russ-Powell runs The Repair Bench where members of the community can bring electrical and mechanical items as well as gardening tools and equipment to be repaired for a small donation. 

The donations go towards the newly founded Tool Library, a new initiative in collaboration with the Coalville Education Partnership, where members of the community can sign up to borrow tools for a small fee instead of buying them new.

"People buy a 200 quid carpet cleaner and use it once, and then it will sit and do nothing.

The Tool Library has been set up to reduce mechanical waste as well as helping the community financially. 

Ken said: "People buy a 200 quid carpet cleaner and use it once, and then it will sit and do nothing.

"The tool library aims to share things among the community."

In 12 months' time Ken hopes the Tool Library will grow to around 200 members and carry over 100 tools. 

Ken cannot praise CAN enough for their support with the new initiative and says they have helped with funding as well as the partnership with the CEP. 

He has also started a new project called Men in Sheds, a community workshop where people can learn woodwork and metalwork skills for a small fee.

Ken said: "There will be a range of different tools and people can borrow them and learn the skills to use them. 

"Again, it's about getting the community together."

All four of these projects will boost the local community financially as well as helping the environment.