Musical Borderers are being called upon to keep instruments in good use by signing up for a ‘Musical Instrument Amnesty’.

Zero Waste Scotland is encouraging musical groups to sign up for this year’s Pass it on Week (March 10-18).

The national week of action aims to showcase re-use as an attractive alternative to new – and offers Scots the chance to help others and the environment by keeping things in use.

Local music organisations and charities are being asked to act as collection points for people to drop off instruments.

Anyone wishing to get involved can sign up at www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/passonthemusic.

Andrew Pankhurst, Zero Waste Scotland’s re-use campaigns manager, who is also a keen musician, said: “The Musical Instrument Amnesty is a great way for people to pass on the gift of music. Pass it on Week is all about looking at what we no longer use and passing it on to have a new life with someone else, and one of the great ways you can do that is by giving someone the opportunity to learn an instrument.”

Zero Waste Scotland teamed up with the UK’s first ‘musical instrument library’, Music Broth, and music charity The Glad Foundation. Music Broth will act as an ‘overspill’ service for any partners that end up with items they can’t rehome, and can help connect Amnesty partner organisations to a musical group in their local area.

Felix Slaven, Founder of Music Broth, said: “We’re really pleased to be able to support any individual, group or organisation that wants to support this initiative but doesn’t know where to send the instruments they collect. So if you want to get involved, we will accept your musical items and make sure they go on to have a long life as part of our library.”

In addition to the Musical Instrument Amnesty, Pass it on Week will see people across Scotland swapping, donating, sharing and repairing to help make things last. Share your Pass it on Week story on social media using the #PassItOnWeek hashtag.