WHY ask charities to spend even a penny buying items when what they need can be given for free?
That was the attitude when three Glasgow schools were being refurbished and it was decided the unwanted plumbing could be used in schools in West Africa.
City Building, Glasgow City Council's arms-length construc-tion firm, is refurbishing St Joseph's, Kelburn and Thornwood primaries, and staff member Campbell Blades didn't want to see sanitary-ware go to waste.
Campbell offered the toilets to Scotia Aid – Sierra Leone, a Scotland-based charity helping schools in the West African state improve education for children and young people.
The sanitary-ware from the toilets at all three schools will be cleaned up and shipped to Sierra Leone this month to be installed in Kabala in the Northern Province.
City Building chairman Paul Carey said: "Helping to build sustainable communities is a key focus of what City Building delivers in Scotland so we are delighted to have the opportunity to do this in West Africa."
Campbell said: "There is usually a lot that can be recycled when undertaking a refurbishment.
"We try to send as little to landfill as we can.
"I'm glad to see items that may have gone to waste get a new life in a place where they will be needed."
catriona.stewart@eveningtimes.co.uk