Thank you Bristol – 40% more items saved from being thrown away
This year, Bristol Waste’s Reuse Shops have seen a 40% increase in the number of items being sold or donated instead of thrown away. In this blog, Jak Boydon, Reuse Growth Manager from Bristol Waste, explains more about their Reuse Shops.
In under a year our Reuse Shops have gone from 250,000 items being sold or donated to over 350,000 items. This is an incredible milestone – and it’s all thanks to the people of Bristol. The speed of this growth shows that when affordable, sustainable options are available, people are quick to choose them.
How our Reuse Shops work
From furniture and bikes to books, bric-a-brac, and electricals, every item in our Reuse Shops has been donated at our Household Reuse and Recycling Centres (HRRCs) around Bristol. Instead of being thrown out, these items are quality checked and resold at affordable prices.
This means that:
- Fewer items need to be recycled, saving energy;
- Fewer items end up in landfill, reducing pollution;
- Fewer new items need to be produced, lessening the environmental impact of production industries;
- Lower-income households can access good quality items;
- The wider community benefits: profits are invested into vital Bristol services and charities. So far, we’ve donated £40,000 to St Peters Hospice thanks to Bristol residents!
Launched in 2020 with the opening of our first Reuse Shop at the Avonmouth HRRC, we’ve since opened second and third shops at the Hartcliffe and St Philips HRRCs.
Bristol’s growing reuse culture
The success of the shops is a clear sign of the growing reuse culture in our city. More and more Bristol residents are learning the importance of keeping items in use for longer and reducing waste. No wonder Bristol is still the number one spot for recycling amongst British core cities.
On top of this, it can be exciting visiting the Reuse Shops, never knowing what treasures you might come across.
“People are really amazed when they see what they can find in the Reuse Shop. After their first visit, we often find people come back with loads to donate and become regular shoppers, always looking for a bargain to take home.”
Sue Tennyson, Reuse Shop Assistant
We’re so grateful for the support that’s helping reuse schemes grow faster than ever in our city, and if you haven’t been to one of our Reuse Shops yet, now’s the perfect time to join this ever-growing movement.
Find a Reuse Shop
Positioned inside the HHRCs, the Reuse Shops are accessible to all members of the public and don’t require a booking to browse or shop. Bristol residents can donate items at donation points located inside the HRRCs.
The Reuse Shops are at the HRRCs in Avonmouth (BS11 0YS), on Hartcliffe Way (BS3 5RN), and in St Philips (BS2 0QS). They are open five days a week, including weekends, from 9.30am to 3.30pm. Find out more and arrange your visit.
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