REUSE shops at a number of recycling centres in Warwickshire have reopened following the end of lockdown.
The shops are an Aladdin’s cave of quality preowned goods, including household items, tools, furniture, toys and bikes.
All items are quarantined and checked for safety and quality before sale, and there are many bargains to be snapped up in time for Christmas.
The shops are welcoming donations across a range of goods, including furniture, home furnishings, bikes, garden equipment, toys and books. All electrical and electronic equipment is PAT tested before sale.
Most recycling centre reuse shops in Warwickshire are run by Age UK Coventry and Warwickshire. Proceeds from the shops help provide services to older people in Warwickshire.
Booking is required to deposit recycling or waste at the centres though booking is not required to visit the Age UK shops.
Shops open at this time include Lower House Farm, near Dordon, Hunters Lane, Rugby, Cherry Orchard, Kenilworth, Princes Drive, Leamington and Wellesbourne.
Shops will do their best to accept all suitable items but space for quarantined goods is limited. Customers are asked to follow social distancing signs and to wear a mask, unless exempt.
Environment spokeswoman for the county council, Heather Timms said: “I would like to thank our reuse shop charity partners, who have worked hard to make sure that these six shops have been able to reopen at the end of the national lockdown. The staff and volunteers are very much appreciated.
“If you are having a sort out in the run up to Christmas, please donate any preloved items listed to the shops. Donating and buying reused items gives the charities a much-needed boost to funds, which are spent locally for the benefit of local people. The wide-ranging reuse activity across Warwickshire gives us all access to good quality second-hand items at a fraction of the price of buying new. It’s not only good for our pockets and our local communities, it is very good at reducing our environmental impact, reducing the need for new raw materials and reducing transport and pollution. Increasing reuse is an easy way for us all to reduce our carbon emissions and tackle climate change.”
Visit www.ageuk.org.uk/coventryandwarwickshire/shops/reuse-shops for updates to opening times, and for more information on reuse in the county visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/reuse.
