A North Tyneside re-use shop has sold more than 30,000 household items in its first three months, helping keep usable goods out of landfill and raising money for local causes.
Renew North Tyneside said the sales had prevented more than 70 tonnes of household goods from being thrown away. Profits from the shop are donated to local charities and environmental initiatives across North Tyneside.
Giving unwanted items another life
The items are donated by residents visiting the Newcastle Quays household waste recycling centre. Goods that are still in good condition are checked, cleaned and repaired where needed before being offered for resale at low cost.
A team of 16 volunteers currently helps prepare, test and repair items for the shop.
Volunteer Cath Allister has been involved for two months and said the shop had βa really friendly atmosphereβ.
βAs a recently retired person, I felt that I still had a lot of energy to give and time to volunteer,β she said.
She added that customer numbers and donations had been increasing consistently since she joined Renew North Tyneside.
Money returned to local communities
Renew North Tyneside was created by North Tyneside Council, SUEZ, which operates the household waste and recycling centre, and local charity North Tyneside Big Local.
North Tyneside cabinet member for environment Willie Samuel thanked everyone who had donated, volunteered or shopped at the re-use shop.
βEvery item reused is one less going to waste, and I hope even more residents will come along and see what they can find,β he said.
With household goods being repaired and sold rather than discarded, the shop is offering local residents a lower-cost way to find useful items while supporting charities and environmental work in the area.
