News / Reuse Shops
Waste operator’s reuse shops save 500,000 items from going to landfill
More than 500,000 unwanted items have been given new homes through Bristol Waste’s Reuse Shops, saving items, ranging from furniture to computers, going to landfill.
The milestone comes five years after the first shop opened at the operator’s Avonmouth recycling centre.
Residents can donate unwanted items at Avonmouth, Hartcliffe Way and St Philip’s, where goods are cleaned, tested and sold at affordable prices.
Over the past year, the shops have diverted an average of 14,000 items from waste every month, with the scheme helping promote second-hand shopping across the city.
Bristol Waste’s reuse manager Jak Boydon said the achievement showed “how strongly residents had embraced reuse”.
Boydon said:“It’s fantastic to see so many people in Bristol discovering our Reuse Shops and choosing to buy second-hand and also donating items.”
“Reaching this milestone means literally half a million things have been kept in use instead of going to waste, which is good for people’s pockets and better for the environment too.”
More than 500,000 unwanted items have been given new homes through Bristol Waste’s Reuse Shops, saving items, ranging from furniture to computers, going to landfill
The Reuse Shops reached 250,000 items saved by the end of 2024 before passing 350,000 less than a year later.
The initiative also supports local communities, with 25 per cent of profits donated to charities.
St Peter’s Hospice has received more than £50,000 from the scheme, while £2,680 was donated to the Jessie May Trust in 2026.
Supported by volunteers, who contributed almost 4,000 hours in 2025, the shops sell everything from furniture and homeware to computers, musical instruments, snooker tables, bikes, garden equipment and DIY kits.
The milestone comes five years after the first shop opened at the operator’s Avonmouth recycling centre
Boydon added: “Whether you’re looking for a bargain, clearing out clutter or trying to live more sustainably, the Reuse Shops offer a simple way to save money, cut waste and support Bristol.”
All photos: Bristol Waste
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