Furniture reuse charities in London report a 14% increase in households choosing to send unwanted furniture for reuse and not to landfill.

The 2006 figures - produced by the London Furniture Reuse Network (London FRN) - confirm Londoners donated 73,000 items to furniture reuse last year and provided these as low-cost household items to families living in hardship and poverty.

London FRN's Regional Development Manager, Richard Featherstone confirms "this is fantastic news for the reuse sector, the figures indicate a continual increase in the number of Londoners who choose to send their furniture and appliances for reuse rather than fly tipping or sending them to landfill. Over 14,500 households were helped by the furniture reuse service in London in 2006. However, the ideal figure should be around 300,000 households, proving there is still a long way to go and much campaigning still to be done."

The rise in popularity of reuse is good news for London's mayor, Ken Livingstone - one of his key priorities is to reduce the amount thrown away. By choosing an alternative path for furniture before it reaches the waste stream, furniture reuse diverts bulky items from landfill, and reduces the impact on climate change.

In providing a low-cost alternative to expensive, high-street shops, furniture reuse organisations significantly contribute to reducing domestic poverty in London. New figures released by the Child Poverty Commission state that 2 in 5 children now live below the poverty line. The supply of affordable furniture to disadvantaged families with limited or no financial income, enables them to improve their homes without spiralling into debt, helping people out of poverty - not compounding it.

Furniture reuse has also caught the interest of housing associations. Many of London's housing associations realise the benefit of providing tenants access to affordable furniture. Through the use of a simple referral process, targeted campaigns are increasing the supply of low-cost furniture to new and old tenants - some of London's most in need.

Sue Jane O'Keefe, Vulnerable Person's Co-ordinator at Genesis Community Housing is keen to help tenants avoid getting into debt and act as a referral agent for a number of furniture reuse projects. "The response from our tenants has been fantastically positive. Some tenants were initially unsure about "second hand" goods, but having seen the quality of the furniture at such low prices, they soon realised the value of the service. Not only are we helping people access the furniture they need at a great price, we are also promoting a more environmental way of reusing furniture and preventing landfill."