Maintenance

Running a Hackspace like ours requires a lot of continuous maintenance work that may not be immediately obvious when you're new. All members are expected to help out with this.

Keeping the Hackspace in Shape

According to our Rules you're expected to clean up your workspace after you're done; but beyond that we ask that you help us maintain the space. We have a lot of members that make constant use of our facilities, and it adds up quickly.

A few good rules of thumb:

• Strive to do one maintenance task every time you visit. You're already helping if you only bring out the garbage or wipe a few desks clean.
• Strive to leave our facilities in a better state than you found them.
• If you don't know how things work and this documentation doesn't help then just ask around, in the space or on IRC. Then update this documentation.

Waste Disposal

Regular Waste

This includes industrial waste (electronics, metal, stone, wood, ...) as long as it is not toxic. We have set up a few bins in various places. Once they're full take out the bag, replace it with a new one (you can find them under the kitchen sink), and dispose of the full bag.

There is a large skip in the Cremer Street parking space outside our house, to your left when you enter the main gate.

Recycling

Unfortunately we don't have a recycling facility, even though there is a recycling bin in the kitchen. (In the past some people have generously offered to recycle our waste at home, but this is not encouraged as a general solution.)

In the future we could make use of Hackney's business recycling services, at a fee.

Also have a look at Hackney's Recycling banks and bins documentation. (TODO: are we allowed to use these? They're set up for residents.)

Batteries

Hackney Council has several recycling facilities for household batteries (which includes "laptop batteries and other types of portable batteries", but does not include car batteries.)

The closest to the space is at Shoreditch Library, in 80 Hoxton Street, N1 6LP (map), which is next to the community college.

Opening hours:

• Mon, Tues, Thur: 9am - 8pm
• Wed: 9am - 6pm
• Fri: 10am - 8pm
• Sat: 9am - 5pm
• Sun 1pm - 5pm

Infrastructure Work

At any time there are a few infrastructure projects in progress that strive to make improvement to the Hackspace. Have a look at the Infrastructure page to see a list of ongoing projects. If you find anything that interests you or where you can offer help get in touch with the people involved and ask them how you can participate.