SHRUB Coop

SHRUB is a zero-waste community co-operative in Edinburgh working for a world without waste and empowering people to live a low carbon life.

Zero Waste Hub

Location: 22 Bread Street

Opening times: 11am to 6pm Tuesday to Saturday, 12pm to 5pm on Sundays.

A community hub where like-minded people aim to build solutions to the challenges of climate change and wasteful consumption.

  • Zero Waste Hub: you can buy and swap second-hand clothes, books and other items.
  • Food Sharing Hub: you can come and help yourself to some rescued food and pay as you feel.
  • Vegan cafe and regular events: see what's happening in the space!

Wee Spoke Hub

Location: 13 Guthrie Street

Opening times: 1pm to 6pm Wednesday to Saturday.

The SHRUB Wee Spoke Hub is an inclusive bike space. This welcoming active travel advocacy hub offers:

  • bike repairs
  • DIY sessions
  • mechanical training
  • and workshops.

SHRUB want better cycling skills for the Edinburgh community, to equip people with the skills to repair and maintain their own bike, for cycling to be more accessible to people from all walks of life, and to have better cycling infrastructure in the city.

Join the SHRUB Coop

Our Zero-waste hub is a space created by the community, for the community. At SHRUB we want to make the circular economy accessible to all. There are many ways to engage, wether that’s by visiting the Zero Waste Hub, taking part in events, becoming a member or signing up as a volunteer. We want you to have a say in what we do, so get involved!

Heloisa Fyfe
Community Hub Co-ordinator

As a co­operative, the SHRUB operates an open membership policy (anybody above the age of 16 can apply for membership).

You can join either by being a paying member or by volunteering. SHRUB is organised non-hierarchically and governed through consensus decision-making. Members are free to join in decision-making and stand for a Trustee position. Trustees are elected at the AGM and are legally liable for the Co­op.

For more information about SHRUB visit:

SHRUB's journey

SHRUB started over 10 years ago when our University students and staff in the Accommodation, Catering and Events department were looking for new ways to reduce the amount of waste which occurred in halls of residence at the end of every academic year when students went home for the holidays. That waste was then collected, sorted and stored, ready to give to the following year’s Welcome Week.

SHRUB Cooperative was registered as the UK’s first student-­led community co­operative. A large proportion of our members are students, mostly from the University of Edinburgh. The SHRUB membership is becoming increasingly diverse, incorporating individuals from a range of ages and backgrounds in the local community.

SHRUB no longer describe themselves as “student-led”, but instead are “community-led”.

2022 savings:

  • Food waste saved from going to waste: 27,296kg, equivalent to 102,061kg CO2e
  • Swapshop items saved from going to landfill: 6267.64kg, equivalent to 74,590.96kg CO2e.

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