New swap stop in Laugardalur
Reykjavík City has opened its first swap stop, where residents can exchange useful items instead of letting them collect dust in storage.
The swap stop encourages people to reuse and share instead of throwing things away.
The project is set up as a pilot program through the fall, and we'll evaluate its future after that. The model comes from Denmark, where so-called "byttebox" have become popular in cities like Aarhus and Aalborg.
"The byttebox caught our attention, and we decided to try this here at home," says Friðrik Klingbeil Gunnarsson, an engineer at Reykjavík City's Environmental Quality Office. "We want to make it easier for people to give their stuff a second life instead of tossing it or buying new."
Not competing with thrift stores
The swap stop isn't designed to compete with thrift stores, but rather as a small and convenient addition to existing services. "It's an easy way for people to share small items they don't need anymore or pick up something useful while drawing attention to the importance of the circular economy—all for free," says Friðrik.
The idea works just like the Free Shop at Gerðuberg City Library, where people swap small useful items for free. The swap stop is located on Sundlaugarvegur, and Sorpa will monitor it like other recycling drop-offs in the capital area.
A city-wide collaboration
The swap stop is a collaborative project involving the environmental quality office, the urban design division, and the municipal land service center, which provided and renovated an old bus shelter and an outdoor bench. The shelter was designed by staff from the urban design division, with shelves obtained from Gerðuberg City Library and flower boxes from Reykjavík City's horticulture division.
The thrift shop, Góði hirðirinn, also provided an initial stock of useful items to get the project started. The name "skiptiskjól" or "Swap Stop" was the winning entry in an internal competition held by the environment and planning department.
How well this pilot works will decide if we expand it. "We'll take it down over the winter and see what we do next spring," says Friðrik. People love it so far—items are flying off the shelves! The city hopes more residents will join in giving their stuff a second chance. "We encourage everyone to use the swap stop!" Friðrik says in closing.