A brand-new shop is opening at Avonmouth Recycling Centre (Kings Weston Lane, BS11 0YS), filled with low cost goods, from TVs to toys and furniture to vacuums - all diverted from the waste stream!
The store, which is the first of its kind for Bristol Waste, will open its doors to the public for the first time on Tuesday 23rd June 2020. With the support of volunteers, the store will be open Monday – Friday between 10am and 3pm. All items for sale have been saved from going to waste, with the income generated used to fund and further develop the company’s reuse work, and a percentage donated to local charities.
As well as snapping up a bargain, residents are invited to bring good quality, pre-loved items to donate. Staff will be on hand to direct visitors on where to leave items and answer questions about what can be reused. After being dropped off, the items will be cleaned and quarantined for 72hrs before being put out for sale. Electrical items are PAT tested at the onsite reuse workshop, ensuring everything is safe and ready for a new home.
Jo Dainton, Bristol Waste Reuse Coordinator, said: “This is such an exciting moment. One that has only been made possible through the incredible support from project partners, our Recycling Centre crews who spot the amazing reusable items as they are brought on site, and the residents of Bristol, who have been buying and donating preloved items.
“Please help Bristol waste nothing by donating or buying reuse items; it’s good for Bristol, kind on the environment and even kinder on your pocket! Buy it or bring it, just don’t bin it”
By redirecting reusable items from disposal, the new reuse shop will reduce the city’s waste disposal costs, save valuable resources and help Bristol reach its ambitious recycling target of 50% by 2020.
The opening date marks exactly two years to the day since Bristol Waste held their first ever reuse event at the Albert Road depot.
Bristol Waste began reuse work in April 2018 when they started collecting bikes and mobility aids at Recycling Centres and donating these to project partners. Since then the award-winning team have salvaged over 76 tonnes of material from the waste stream, including:
Diverting - 22 tonnes of paint from the waste stream
Saving - 25 tonnes of books, sending them to be reused
Donating - over 1,400 bikes and 1,600 mobility aids to local charities
Raising - more than £5k for charity
The shop is based at Avonmouth Reuse and Recycling Centre, Kings Weston Lane, BS11 0YS. It will be open Monday – Friday, between 10am and 3pm. For more information visit www.bristolwastecompany.co.uk/reuse. Due to restrictions in place as a result of the coronavirus, visitors may need to queue to access the site. A live traffic camera can be found here: www.bristolwastecompany.co.uk/hrrc-queue-camera/.