Junkbusters is a joint project between the Guild of Students and the University of Birmingham. Our aim is to encourage a more sustainable way of living by collecting your unwanted clothes, books and household items that still have life in them.
All the items you donate to us help to raise money for the British Heart Foundation, meaning we’re also contributing to better wellbeing in our local community and across the UK. We’re very proud to say that due to your support and previous donations, we’ve been able to raise over £181,000 since 2011.
Every year, we host collection stalls in and around Selly Oak. All you need to do is dig out the things you no longer need, drop them into a bin bag and pop along to one of our collection points with your items. You’ll find details of our next collection events below.
Why not have a clear out before you leave for the upcoming break, and if you’re leaving your accommodation for the final time leave anything you no longer need with us.
As of 30 November 2023, we’re also partnering with Birmingham City Council to tackle waste behaviours across the city. The Council’s ‘Love your Streets’ campaign aims to address a range of issues, such as fly-tipping, inconsiderate parking, fly-posting, waste impact awareness and education on the waste responsibilities of landlords. Working together we hope to improve sustainability practices and reduce inconsiderate waste behaviours, ensuring that as many people as possible are aware of the various schemes and services available to manage their waste.
With our focus on sustainability we hope to encourage more recycling and reuse and ensure that as many items as possible find new homes or are put to good use.
Thursday 30 November 2023 12.30pm – 3.30pm
You can also take advantage of the Council’s Donate unwanted items scheme at your local household recycling centre in between our regular Junkbusters' collections. You'll find details of how to do this on the Birmingham City Council website.
On occasions our stalls will be held in partnership with the council or we may support some of their ‘Love your Street’ activities in our neighbourhoods, so keep an eye out on our social channels for the latest events and opportunities to bust your junk.
At our Junkbusters’ stalls we can accept most items with the following exceptions:
The above items will need to be recycled at your local household recycling centre. You can find details of these on the Birmingham City Council website.
Please ensure that all the items that you are donating are of a good quality, so that they can be of good use to charities.
We host regular Junkbusters’ collections throughout the year, however if you’re having a clear out and need to donate at a time when there isn’t an immediate Junkbusters’ collection scheduled, the Council accepts donations of furniture, electrical items, bikes, household goods, garden tools and bric-a-brac. Take a look at their website to find learn all about where you can donate items.
We recognise that not everyone can easily bring items to us, particularly if you want to donate lots of items or if circumstances prevent you from coming to one of our collection points. But don’t worry, just get in touch with the Community Wardens via email or our social media and we’ll do our best to help.
The Council also provide large waste collection services for a fee. They will collect up to 20 bags of household waste or 10 items if you are having a house clearance. See the bulky waste collection information on their website.
The British Heart Foundation has three shops near Selly Oak where they sell pre-loved items. Pop along and you might find something you love. Visit their website to find BHF near you.
The council also has a Reuse shop where donated and refurbished items are available to buy. You will find opening times on their website.
1 Donation Bag
Could be worth as much as £15 to the British heart Foundation
10 Donated Bags
Of unwanted items could fund one full day of BHF Heart Nursing Care
100 Donated Bags
Could fund a young scientist for a week to help find a cure
1000 Donated Bags
Of unwanted items could help up to 40 young heart patients regain their confidence
In 2022/23 you donated 2,344 bags, the equivalent of £32,816 in value of pre-loved items or 18.6s tonnes. That’s the weight of 2.7 African male elephants. Read our BHF Junkbusters Impact Report 2023 for more information.