Monmouthshire County Council’s Five Lanes Recycling Centre in Caerwent has officially opened with bargains and treasures to be uncovered. The Reuse Shop was officially opened by Councillor Jane Pratt on Thursday 8th of July.
Five Lanes Reuse Shop is a first for south Monmouthshire and follows in the footsteps of the Llanfoist shop at the Household Waste & Recycling Centre near Abergavenny, which opened in 2019 and serves the north of the county.
The Reuse Shop sits alongside the Household Waste and Recycling centres and offers pre-loved items at bargain prices. The stock for both shops comes from items rescued by dedicated teams who work at the centres, intercepting safe and useful items as they leave the cars’ boots before they’re thrown in the skips.
The not-for-profit Reuse shops plough all profits directly into Monmouthshire Council’s tree planting programme. This helps in the fight against climate change and reduces the council’s waste disposal costs. This summer, the Five Lanes Reuse Shop is also selling compost/soil improver at a £1 a bag. The compost is made from the garden waste brought into the recycling centres by residents and is supplied by Abergavenny Green Waste.
Councillor Jane Pratt, Monmouthshire County Council’s cabinet member for Climate Change, led the opening ceremony. “I am proud to officially declare this Reuse Shop open. I would like to thank all our Recycling and Waste teams, and the volunteers who work at the sites for their hard work and commitment. In creating this new shop, we can hope to double the opportunity to reduce landfill and plant even more trees in the county. I would also like to thank all those residents who have supported the shops so far, every penny they have spent makes a difference to our efforts to make Monmouthshire greener.”
The Five Lanes Reuse Shop relies on support from the local community. Dedicated staff and a team of enthusiastic volunteers work to stock the shop and present the very best salvaged and vintage items for sale. From garden equipment, including pots and tools, kitchenalia, antiques, small items of furniture, glasses, tableware, pictures, toys, books, bicycles for all ages, and collectables, the selection is constantly being added to as more items are saved by the team on site.
“Many of the items in the shop are almost as good as new, while others would make enjoyable makeover projects,” said Cllr. Pratt. “Items such as coffee tables are perfect for a bit of upcycling with a lick of paint or wax, while the chairs could provide a fun re-upholstery project for very little cost. I would encourage residents to come and take a look for themselves. The amount of stock on display just shows how much might have been wasted if it were not for the efforts of the team. When you buy these pre-loved items, you’re helping to plant more trees in Monmouthshire, reducing landfill and you bagging a bargain all at the same time. What could be better?”
Since the Llanfoist Reuse Shop opened in June 2019, it’s estimated that more than 11,000 items have been saved from the skips and profits have helped fund the planting of more than 8,100 trees across Monmouthshire. This autumn/winter the council is hoping to plant a further 5,000 whips (small saplings) and standards (young trees 6ft-8ft tall, often seen in parks and open spaces).
The Llanfoist Reuse Shop is open every Wednesday, from 10am-3pm, while the new Five Lanes Reuse Shop is open from 10am-3pm every Thursday. For more information visit: monmouthshire.gov.uk/recycling-and-waste/reuse-shop/