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

Kirklees Council’s reuse and recycle charity shop is proving that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.

And, more than that, the Revive Kirklees shop in Huddersfield town centre is helping hard-pressed households struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.

The council has been collecting unwanted items at two of its household waste recycling centres in Emerald Street in Huddersfield and Weaving Lane, Dewsbury, for the last year.

Instead of being dumped into landfill the unwanted items – surprisingly some of them virtually brand new – can be left in reuse containers.

The items have then been sorted and sent on to the Revive shop in Upperhead Row, next to Huddersfield Bus Station.

The shop, which opened its doors last November, had an official launch on Wednesday when Clr Naheed Mather, Cabinet member for the environment, and Clr Will Simpson, Cabinet member for culture and greener Kirklees, cut the ribbon.

In the first six weeks of trading almost 26,000 items have been sold and the shop is selling 4,500 items a week.

Clr Mather said: “It’s been amazing so far. When the council decided to do this it was all about reuse and recycling and keeping waste out of landfill but now it’s about so much more than that.

“This shop is right in the heart of town and the prices are so low. It’s much cheaper than other charity shops and it’s affordable for everybody, which is just what people need right now with the cost-of-living crisis.”

The shop sells everything from bikes to vacuum cleaners; kettles and toasters to cutlery and curtains; chairs and small items of furniture to books, CDs and vinyl records. Then there’s clothing, bric-a-brac, toys, decorative items and…the weird and the wonderful.

Clr Mather had her eye on a teapot but was beaten to it by another bargain hunter while the always sharply-dressed Clr Simpson tried a natty beige jacket for size.

The shop is run by two charities SLATE, which offers work opportunities to people with learning disabilities, and the St Vincent de Paul Society, which aims to tackle poverty.

The society’s CEO Elizabeth Palmer said the first Revive shop opened in Seacroft, Leeds, and a second had opened on a waste site in Kirkstall.

Generally speaking, whatever can be transported in a car can be donated – and the strangest item handed over was a wooden coffin (unused).

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

“The store is exceeding its sales target and attracts over 2,500 customers a week, which is fantastic news.

“Now, more than ever, caring for the environment is vital. Reuse projects such as this have a vital role to play in preventing more goods going into landfill, perfectly good items that someone will have a home and a use for.

“What is more, as the cost-of-living crisis bites, there are real bargains to be had here. This wonderful shop supports charities who are doing great work, contributes to positive climate action, is good for the pocket and provides employment here in Huddersfield and contributes to the Huddersfield pound.

“What more could anyone want?”