A TWEEDDALE social enterprise has teamed up with Edinburgh-based charity to stop tools going to landfill.

You Can Cook is working with Garvald which will repair used gardening gadgets.

And once fixed by the organisation, which supports people with learning disabilities, they will then be put back into use.

Bosco Santimano from You Can Cook said: "Scottish Borders Council ran a pilot with You Can Cook in late 2017 to divert gardening and other non-electrical tools away from landfill.

"Within three months the pilot was showing amazing results and so far we have diverted more than three tonnes of recyclable waste to be reused back in the communities of the Borders, Edinburgh and Lothians.

"This initiative will operate under the You Can Grow banner which is an off shoot of You Can Cook, for items that are still in good condition and can be refurbished/repaired and used by the community."

You Can Grow has had five growing projects in the wider Tweeddale area and has also supported over 125 households since 2015 by helping to convert their gardens into 'edible gardens'.

Bosco explained: "A local volunteer for Garvald picks up the tools from us and takes them to Edinburgh on the days he is working so as to reduce unnecessary journeys.

"Garvald then repairs and refurbishes these tools, some of which will then passed on to Tools for Self-Reliance – a UK based charity working to help relieve poverty in Africa.

"Garvald has also agreed to supply us with tools to fundraise for this project on an ongoing basis when they have any to spare.

"Meanwhile SBC has also agreed to roll out the initiative to all the remaining recycling centres in the Borders by the end of this year.

"This is an exciting phase of the operation, where now we will have access to refurbished as new tools for local communities and growers across the Borders."

Some of the refurbished tools are already available for sale at Change Works in Peebles and The Allotment shop in Innerleithen High Street.

Bosco added: "We are currently in discussions with other retail shops and third sector organisations in the Borders and Edinburgh to showcase our tools for sale to the general public while raising awareness and promoting our reuse project and partnerships with like-minded organisations.

"We are also looking to set up a Tool Library in Peebles and across the Borders very soon. We have also launched our brand new website www.youcangrow.org.uk to promote, inform and highlight all activities and projects relating to growing."