The Southside climate directory: reuse & recycle

At Rags to Riches, the reuse and upcycling branch of Govanhill Baths Community Trust (GBCT), we are excited to introduce the Southside Climate Directory, a new online resource. The directory is designed to help residents of Govanhill and the surrounding area, access sustainable solutions locally.

By Eva Camille Harrold, Rags to Riches | Illustration by Laura Wade

The directory offers a wealth of information on sustainability, with a focus on recycling, repair services, and eco-friendly initiatives available throughout the area. We want it to become a one-stop shop for all sustainability needs in the Southside, offering guidance on where to find specific recycling bins, tips on growing your own food, and information on where to repair clothing or electrical items. This builds on the work done by SouthSeeds which already provides information on some of these areas.

While there’s lots of sustainability information available online, it’s often scattered across different platforms or is difficult to navigate. We’ve worked hard to gather locally relevant, free, user-friendly resources in one place.

We strongly believe this directory should be a collaborative effort within the Southside community. The directory is available to view the Govanhill Baths website. If you know of a business or resource that should be included, get in touch via eva@govanhillbaths.com.

Here’s are a few of our favourites:

Repair Cafe

The Repair Cafe runs on the last Saturday of each month from 12 – 3pm at Clyde Community Hall in Ibrox. Bring items you need repaired and their skilled team will take a look at what can be done. It is a free service with donations accepted. The Repair cafe covers a wide breadth of items including clothing, electricals, jewellery and appliances.

Lidl return scheme

You can take clean PET plastic and aluminium drink containers back to Lidl on Victoria Road, which is taking part in the first supermarket bottle return scheme across Glasgow. Customers receive a 5p reward for each item returned, which can be redeemed against their shopping or donated to charity.

The Pram Project

Based in Shawlands the Pram Project repairs, resells and rents prams giving parents greater choice and freedom when it comes to an expensive but essential purchase! They say they are “working hard to keep prams on the road, out of landfill and through donation into the hands of those that need them most.”

Direct Sewing Machines

Based out in Elder Park workspace in Govan offer sewing machine repairs and servicing. Direct Sewing Machines also has an amazing selection of second-hand sewing machines to buy if you are thinking about making a sewing machine purchase!

Clever Clogs

Located in Shawlands, Clever Clogs specialises in shoe repairs for various footwear from boots to sandals, breathing life into those old favourites. For detailed information on the types of repairs available, or to discuss a specific request, get in touch with Clever Clogs.

Rags to Riches

(We might be a little biased on this one) Rags to Riches offers a fantastic range of textile, wood and plastic recycling. We accept donations of wood and textiles to the Deep End, which are then reused in our upskill workshops. Plastics, HDPE and PP5, can be donated at our drop-off point in the Deep End and the Tramway. These are cleaned, chipped down and melted into new materials.

Elen’s Tailoring & Alterations

A fixture of Vicky Road – a stone’s throw from Queen’s Park – Elen’s can adjust and repair your clothes, from old favourites to second-hand finds. As well as general tailoring and alterations, services include bridal alterations, curtain-making, dress-making, and leather repair. With a quick or same-day turn-a-round available for most jobs.

Second Cashmere

Second Cashmere recycle and reinvent second-hand cashmere items. They also offer a knit repair service to keep your woollies in good nick or look out for one of their knit repair workshops at Bawn Textiles and learn the art of repairing yourself.

Merry-Go-Round and AppareXchange

Just around the corner from each other (on Nithsdale Rd and Nithsdale St), both shops accept young people’s clothing donations. ApparelXchange from 4-16 years old and Merry-Go-Round from birth to three years. Merry-Go-Round also accepts toys, and maternity wear and accessories.

Remote Technics

If you have a record collection sitting gathering dust because of an out-of-action turntable, get in touch with Remote Technics, based on Pollokshaws Rd, who has been servicing and customising Technics turntables since 2010. Other services include repairs and servicing of most DJ equipment such as Pioneer CDJs, mixers and all-in-one units. Find them on Facebook and Instagram @remote.technics