News / Household waste
Bristol Waste hit ‘monumental’ reuse milestone
Bristol Waste are not just in the business of picking up rubbish.
Their Reuse Shops put good condition, fit-for-purpose secondhand items back on the shelves at affordable prices.
This month the three shops, located at Avonmouth, Hartcliffe Way and St Philip’s, hit a milestone with 250,000 items sold or donated.
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In the last four years the initiative has saved hundreds of tonnes of materials from being discarded, diverting the items from landfill or incineration.
As well as the environmental benefit, the shops support local charities and have raised over £40,000 for St Peter’s Hospice in that time.
Bristol Waste say they are currently saying 7-8,000 items in the shops each month
“Reaching 250,000 items sold is a monumental achievement,” said Jak Boydon, Bristol Waste’s reuse growth manager. “This success reflects Bristol Waste’s commitment to sustainability and the hard work of our Reuse Shop team and volunteers.
“Every item diverted represents a step towards reducing waste and conserving our planet’s valuable resources.”
The shops sell a range of items from furniture, musical instruments, computers, toys and tools to camping, sports and garden equipment.
They are dropped off by residents visiting Bristol Waste’s household reuse and recycling centres – commonly known as the tip – which have donation containers to divert reusable items from the waste stream.
“We hear stories every day from our customers about how affordable our prices are and how we’ve helped them,” said Judith Godron, shop manager at the Avonmouth Reuse Shop.
“A mother told me she was able to completely redo her son’s room with furniture and items from the shop. Another local told us she was able to completely refurbish her bathroom, from the shelves to the toilet and the sink.
“Selling preloved items through our shops not only benefits the environment but also the Bristol community. By offering items at low prices, we provide an affordable alternative to buying new, especially for people on tight budgets.”
The shop at the Avonmouth waste and recycling centre is open Monday, Tuesday and weekends from 9.30am-3.30pm
The shops currently sell 7-8,000 items each month. Bristol Waste say they are helping other UK councils to follow suit by offering frequent tours of the facility and sharing their experience.
“We’re proud to share our knowledge with other organisations, working towards a common goal of reducing waste nationwide,” said Boydon.
The Reuse Shops at Avonmouth and Hartcliffe Way are open five days a week, including weekends, from 9.30am to 3.30pm. Shopping and donations at the St Philip’s Reuse Shop must be booked – find out more at bristolwastecompany.co.uk/reuse/#shops
All images: Bristol Waste Company
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