Recycled goods sales save 150 tonnes of waste

3 days ago

Andy Martindalein Hadley

News image — Sarah Maythorne says the events really help people who are struggling

BBC A woman with curly brown hair and glasses is smiling at the camera. She is wearing a pink puffer jacket and is holding children's toys in her hand while sitting in the floor — Sarah Maythorne says the events really help people who are struggling

An initiative that resells unwanted items that are donated or saved from recycling centres estimates it has saved about 150 tonnes of waste.

The events, which began in 2023, are held regularly in Hadley, Telford, and are run by waste company Veolia and Telford and Wrekin Council.

Items are sold for a reduced price, and proceeds go to the British Red Cross in Oakengates and the Shropshire Youth Association's youth clubs in the area.

There are a range of items up for sale - from furniture like beds and sofas, to children's toys, clothes, artwork, and bikes.

Sarah Maythorne, area eco manager at Veolia, said it had really helped local people.

"I've met people in here who've brought tears to my eyes, there was a couple that was sofa surfing with a two year-old, I just gave them stuff for free," she said.

A warehouse full of items including furniture, toys, books and decorations. They are arranged in rows like aisles for people to walk between — The items are either donated or intercepted from being thrown away at recycling centres

"I've seen their journey, they've got their own place and they've decorated with everything from here, and it's just amazing the difference that it makes.

"We sell curtains - that's another expense - we usually have beds in… wardrobes… chests of drawers, dining room tables, anything that you could want."

She said the pop-ups started because items were too big to be donated to the borough's charity shops.

"Part of our contract is to make sure we reuse as much as we possibly can," she said.

"We decided to see if people needed some reusable furniture.

"We sold out in 40 minutes in our second pop-up shop."

Maythorne estimates that the pop-ups have raised thousands for charity, and the waste saved will soon amount to 200 tonnes.

The events happen one Thursday each month at Queensway Business Park in Hadley, between 18:00 and 20:00 GMT.

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