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Pop-up shop to open for ‘reuse revolution’

re3’s “first ever” pop-up reuse shop will run in Reading later this month as part of a ‘reuse revolution’ planned by FCC Environment.

On 23 and 24 October, the pop-up shop will be held in the car park of the civic amenity (CA) site at the Smallmead Recycling Centre, Island Road, Reading.

FCC is Reading council’s waste contractor under the re3 partnership, which also includes Bracknell Forest and Wokingham Borough councils.

FCC said the pop-up shop will give residents an opportunity to buy “good quality pre-loved items that have been previously donated by residents for reuse at the site at the site”.

Profits raised from the shop will be donated to Sue Ryder charity, “which already operates as a reuse function at the sites as well as being ploughed back into improving recycling facilities in the area”.

‘Proud’

In a joint statement, Cllr Mrs Dorothy Hayes MBE, Bracknell Forest council’s executive member for environment, Cllr Adele Barnett-Ward, Reading borough council’s lead councillor for neighbourhoods & communities, and Cllr Parry Batth, Wokingham Borough council’s executive member for environment and leisure, said: “We are extremely proud of our recycling achievements here in Bracknell Forest, Reading and Wokingham Boroughs but we can always do more.

“Reducing and reusing waste is our ultimate goal and this trial event will give us insight into how we can make use of pre-loved goods. We want to open our residents to the idea of starting a reuse revolution and hope that many residents will enjoy browsing items and supporting a good cause at the same time”.

‘Bargain prices’

All items will be available for sale at “bargain prices” and there is no need to book a slot at the recycling centre if residents just want to visit the shop.

However, for residents who do have a recycling centre slot over the weekend, they are invited to also drop off items they wish to donate for reuse in the usual re3 Reuse Area on site.

The Reading HWRC, where visitors will be able to donate to a reuse shop

Visitors can expect to find a range of kids toys and games including electronic games, board games and books.

There is also expected to bee sporting goods from bicycles and golf clubs to exercise equipment, racquets and bats as well as gardening equipment.

Rory Brien, FCC general manager, added: “Every day we receive amazing items that have lots of life left in them. We understand that it’s easy to bring everything to us in one go for recycling or disposal, but we wanted to provide residents with an alternative, so we are trialling a pop-up reuse shop this weekend to see what people think of the concept.

“We have been putting great items from bikes and golf clubs to books and electronic devices to one side for some time and these will be available for sale to residents who can put them to good use.”

Liam Bould, regional development manager for FCC Environment, added: “Often, we partner with a local charity to ensure the funds go to a good cause and the trial here in Reading should help us establish if there is an appetite for such a facility here.”

The reuse pop-up shop will be open for business at the Reading Recycling Centre site (Island Road) from 9am-5pm on Saturday, 23 October and 10am-4pm on Sunday, 24 October.

A similar event is also planned to take place at the Bracknell Recycling Centre site (Longshot Lane) soon.

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