Reuse and recycle charity shop sees unwanted items flying out of the door

Kirklees Council’s Reuse and Recycling Charity Shop proves that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.

In addition, the Revive Kirklees store in Huddersfield town center is helping disadvantaged households struggling with the cost of living crisis.

The City Council has been collecting unwanted items at two of its household waste recycling centers on Emerald Street in Huddersfield and Weaving Lane in Dewsbury for a year.

Instead of ending up in landfills, the unwanted items – surprisingly some of them practically brand new – can be left in reuse bins.

The items were then sorted and sent to the Revive store on Upperhead Row, next to Huddersfield bus station.

The store, which opened its doors last November, was officially opened on Wednesday when Clr Naheed Mather, Cabinet Member for Environment, and Clr Will Simpson, Cabinet Member for Culture and Greener Kirklees, cut the ribbon.

Almost 26,000 items were sold in the first six weeks of trading and the shop sells 4,500 items per week.

Clr Mather said: “It’s been fantastic so far. When the council went for it it was all about reuse and recycling and not sending waste to landfill, but now it’s about so much more than that.

“This store is right in the heart of the city and the prices are so low. It’s a lot cheaper than other charity shops and affordable for everyone, just what people need right now in the cost of living crisis.”

The store sells everything from bicycles to vacuum cleaners; kettle and toaster to cutlery and curtains; Chairs and small pieces of furniture to books, CDs and records. Then there are clothes, bric a brac, toys, decorative items and… the weird and the wonderful.

Clr Mather had his eye on a teapot but was hit by another bargain hunter while the always smartly dressed Clr Simpson tried on a smart beige jacket.

The store is run by two charities, SLATE, which provides job opportunities for people with learning disabilities, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society, which works to fight poverty.

Company CEO Elizabeth Palmer said the first Revive store opened in Seacroft, Leeds, and a second opened on a rubbish dump in Kirkstall.

In general, anything that can be transported in a car can be donated – and the strangest item that was donated was a wooden coffin (unused).

Elizabeth said: “What’s particularly exciting about this venture is that it’s our first off-site business, bringing goods destined for landfill back onto the high street.

“The store is exceeding its sales target, attracting over 2,500 customers weekly which is fantastic news.

“Today, protecting the environment is more important than ever. Reuse projects like this play a crucial role in preventing more goods from ending up in landfills, perfectly good items that someone will have a home and a use for.

“In view of the cost of living crisis, there are also real bargains to be found here. This wonderful shop supports charities that do great work, contribute to positive climate action, are good for the pocket and create jobs here in Huddersfield and contribute to the Huddersfield pound.

“What more do you want?”