Background
Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA) is committed to achieving the targets of zero waste and zero net carbon by 2040. This involves changing behaviours and attitudes and encouraging residents to take actions to help us achieve our goals.
As we enter unprecedented levels of consumerism with endless stream of new fast-fashion, electronics, and appliances on offer, it’s important to recognise the toll this endless cycle of buying and disposing has on our environment. By providing opportunities for our community to reuse, repair and resource share, we can shift to sustainable solutions before it’s too late.
Launching a Library of Things can help promote sharing, sustainability, and community engagement by providing access to products that don’t see regular use, and reducing the need for individual ownership. This approach saves users money, reduces clutter, and minimizes environmental impact by extending the lifespan of products and reducing production. It also fosters a sense of community by encouraging interaction and skill-sharing among members as they work to host and maintain products.
The Project
For this project, MRWA is looking to recruit a partnering individual(s) or organisation(s) to develop and host a not-for-profit Library of Things scheme within Liverpool City Region. This scheme should aim to provide the local community with access to items on a lending basis and support the shift away from modern consumerism.
While MRWA does have specific interest in the extended lifecycle and subsequent reduction of electronic and textile waste, this scheme will be open to reuse in all forms regardless of any priority material focus. Successful examples of libraries nationally have included tools, bikes, formal wear and toys. Schemes can be standalone, but additional outreach, education and repair elements would be beneficial.
Funding will be open to both new and existing projects, but those who are pre-established will be required to evidence ways in which they will develop or advance their existing projects/schemes within their application to ensure that we build on what Liverpool City Region already has to offer as opposed to maintaining “business as usual”.
The partner(s) will be fully responsible for all aspects of the scheme, including:
- Procuring of suitable location
- Establishing staff/volunteers
- Developing a primary focus or area of work
- Procuring and maintaining all lendable stock
- Hosting sessions/events/workshops as appropriate
- Any necessary risk assessments and insurance
- Promotion of the scheme
- Monitoring and evaluation
- Continued legacy and development to maintain the space/scheme long-term
Project Aims
The aim of this project is to showcase the benefits of adopting a reuse and repair culture through support and education, promoting a shift in behaviour around unnecessary waste practices and reducing the carbon footprint associated with new products.
Sustainable Development Goals
MRWA has prioritised five of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals with regards to its impact from operations and activities. The prioritised goals are:
3. Good health and well-being.
4. Quality Education.
11. Sustainable cities and communities.
12. Responsible consumption and production.
13. Climate Action.
This project will support all five goals. It will educate, inform, and raise awareness of the benefits of repair and reuse in communities through skill sharing.
Such projects can contribute to people’s self-esteem, relieve their isolation, and instigate community cohesion. It will promote a shift in the waste hierarchy from throwaway culture to reuse, influence sustainable communities, and reduce emissions associated with new product development which contribute to climate change.
Participants will change behaviour and be more responsible about their consumerism and the waste they produce.
What will your organisation’s participation involve?
If you would like to be involved in this project, you will work closely with the MRWA’s Strategy & Development team to develop and deliver the Library of Things initiative.
We are looking to commission a forward-thinking, efficient and sustainable individual or organisation to launch and manage this scheme, with the intention of gathering evidence about the behaviour of participants with regards to reusing and repairing items, its usefulness, and its benefits to determine if additional projects could be beneficial.
While the base may be in one specific area of the Liverpool City Region (LCR). residents from all six districts should be eligible to access the project.
Taking part
Taking part will involve the following:
Engage with residents and community groups – the partner will communicate and engage with residents and local communities and encourage people to access the Library of Things scheme as suitable.
Health & Safety – you will maintain excellent Health and Safety standards throughout the project. You will manage the project on our behalf and mitigate risk.
Help increase reuse in the region – utilising your experience, you will promote the reuse of library stock within your area, educating others where suitable to recognise the benefits or reuse over new purchases in their everyday life.
Recognising support and equipment needs- you will assess current need in your area and design a scheme to best suit these, listing the equipment and tools needed to support the planned endeavour.
Consider sustainability – throughout the project, you should consider sustainability implications and ensure the project is keeping waste production to a minimum.
Consider longevity – while this fund is available to support with set up and development costs, consider how the project can continue after the funded period. What maintenance costs would exist? Is this a long-term provision or a limited offer?
Devise a promotional and engagement plan – develop a communications and logistics plan to promote the scheme, generate volunteers/participants, and share success stories. Encourage participants to provide photos, videos, and testimonies for MRWA to make social media connections.
Produce summary behavioural analysis report – collect relevant data and feedback from participants around the scheme, whether good or bad, and produce an evaluation of the scheme and lessons learnt. Identify any evidence of changes in behaviour, both disposal and buying.
Provide social value for the LCR communities – as an organisation, we are aiming to embed social value across our activities and will ask you to provide us with specific metric to support the calculation of this.
Project Outcomes
We’re looking for the following outcomes from this project:
- Development and delivery of a community-based library of things with an embedded longevity plan.
- Development and distribution of all necessary resources and promotional materials, with support of MRWA.
- Engagement with community organisations and participants across as many of the six areas of the Liverpool City Region as possible (Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsley, Halton, Wirral and St. Helens) – we are funding up to three Library of Things schemes, these are place-based projects, each serving a defined locality, but accessible more widely across the LCR
- The development of supporting repair and maintenance work on equipment, when necessary, e.g. pat testing training for electric items, button replacements on clothing
- Health and safety risk assessments where relevant.
- Support and monitoring of the project and its participants throughout, including evidence and tracking of item numbers, feedback etc.
- Support in embedding social value, and the delivery of data to support its measurement
- Evaluation/end of project report.
Due to the nature of this project and the variety of potential options, MRWA will be offering applicants an opportunity to meet with us prior to applying to discuss project proposals and outcomes to deem the suitability of their project and answer some basic questions.
How your organisation can benefit from taking part in the project
Help instigate behaviour change – Our long-term goal is to achieve zero waste and carbon by 2040. You can help us shift from a linear to a circular economy, reduce waste and carbon and address the global challenges we face today and, in the future, including poverty, inequality, climate change, and environmental degradation. To do this successfully, you will work in partnership and directly engage residents across the LCR.
Embed waste prevention, reduction and reuse thinking within your organisation – expand your organisation’s knowledge of the challenges faced by people locally and internationally with regards to sustainable lifestyles.
Provide opportunities for residents to understand and develop repair skills and a continued use mindset – upskill your community and help residents to: change their behaviour and attitudes towards how they view products and waste; understand the consequences of lifestyle choices; and how their actions can support change.
Develop new partnerships and networking links – build up relationships with community groups and other interested organisations.
Provide social value for the LCR communities – there is significant social value in community reuse and repair. The impact of waste collection, disposal and climate change are all costs that are not usually considered when identifying support for all types of community projects. This is changing as more local authorities recognise the importance of social value and are factoring the benefits into public spending.
Funding linked to the Project
This scheme will be spread over two financial years: 2026-2027 & 2027-2028. With up to £6,000 available each year, totalling £12,000 by the end of the project (March 2028).
This funding should be inclusive of any and all materials, production, delivery, and admin associated with the project. Potential partners will be asked to estimate how many items they wish to host and people they will support. Remember, the primary focus of the project is sustainability and reuse – therefore, accessing donated or repaired stock is preferred over new purchases.
Payment will be paid on completion of work; this can be completed in full at the end of the project, or in up to three phased payments based on reaching agreed outputs. We will evaluate each project application individually and will appoint the right organisation to deliver the best overall outcome for the LCR.
When will the project be delivered?
This project will begin September 2026 and end of March 2028. A detailed timeline of activities is provided below:
| Activity Detail: | Dates: |
| Project tender goes live | 10th July 2026 |
| Query submission window closes | 31st July 2026 |
| Project tender closes | 7th August 2026 |
| Tender applications evaluated | w/c 10th August 2026 |
| Organisation selected | w/c 10th August 2026 |
| Due diligence | Following acceptance |
| Project initiation meeting | Following acceptance |
| Final reports received | March 2028 |
Evaluating Applications
We will score applications received based on:
- 50% Meeting project objectives
- 40% Finance
- 10% Evaluation
If no applications are deemed appropriate (minimum scores above 65/100) during evaluation, MRWA reserve the right to re-list this opportunity to ensure the correct partner organisation is allocated for this funding.
How to apply
To apply, applicants must complete this application form.
Any applications or queries linked to your application should be submitted via email to laura.gilmore@merseysidewda.gov.uk or chauntelle.bowler@merseysidewda.gov.uk.
All applications must be submitted by 5pm, Friday 7th August 2026.
We advise all applicants to reach out and will support all interested parties to ensure the best projects for Liverpool City Region.





