At The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth, a set of worn-out street sweeper brushes that would normally have been thrown away have found a surprising second life, helping donkeys scratch, groom and stay comfortable while keeping valuable materials out of the waste stream.

The brushes were donated by East Devon District Council’s StreetScene team, which uses them to keep local streets clean before replacing them. Rather than becoming waste, the cleaned brushes have been installed around the sanctuary’s Donkey Assisted Activities centre, where they have quickly become a favourite feature for the resident herd.

It is a simple idea, but one that demonstrates how creative thinking, partnership working and a culture of reuse can benefit both people and the planet.

For Devon Climate Emergency, it is a great example of the kind of circular economy principles promoted through the Devon Carbon Plan, which encourages us to reduce waste, keep resources in use for longer, and find new value in materials that might otherwise be discarded. The plan highlights the importance of reusing and recycling materials as part of Devon’s transition to a net-zero future. Action R1 focuses on encouraging more sustainable consumption habits and supporting a culture of sharing, reusing and recycling, while Action R11 promotes greater awareness of the opportunities presented by reclaimed and recycled materials.

As climate change brings increasing challenges for communities, nature and animal welfare, adaptation is becoming just as important as cutting emissions. The Devon Climate Adaptation Plan recognises the need to build resilience across our natural environment while supporting the health and wellbeing of both people and animals.

This is an area where The Donkey Sanctuary is already making a significant contribution. Known internationally for its work protecting donkeys and improving equine welfare, the charity also delivers conservation, education and community programmes that help connect people with nature and animals. Its Donkey Assisted Activities programme supports people facing challenging circumstances through ground-based activities that promote confidence, wellbeing and personal development. By bringing people and animals together, the programme demonstrates how healthy natural environments and positive human-animal relationships can strengthen community resilience.

This kind of joined-up thinking will help Devon respond to the climate and ecological emergencies. The story of these recycled brushes may seem small, but it highlights something bigger: climate action is not always about major infrastructure projects or new technologies. Often, it is about looking at what we already have, finding ways to use it more wisely, and creating benefits that ripple across our communities, economy and environment.

For the donkeys enjoying their new back scratchers, it’s certainly a win.

Visit The Donkey Sanctuary.