Monmouthshire residents are being asked for feedback to help develop and improve its popular Reuse Shops at Llanfoist and Five Lanes Household Waste Recycling Centres.
Since opening in 2019, the shops have become a favourite with bargain hunters, saving more than 133,000 pre-loved items from going in the tip and giving them a new lease of life. Now, local shoppers are being asked to share their views through the Let’s Talk Reuse Shop survey, which runs until Tuesday 17 November at www.letstalkmonmouthshire.co.uk. Paper copies are also available at both shops.
The survey asks residents what they value most about the Reuse Shops, what could be improved and what they would like to see stocked in the future. Feedback will help inform future plans for the shops.
The Reuse Shops are a great example of the circular economy in action. Items destined for disposal are identified by recycling centre staff, checked, cleaned, repaired where needed and offered for sale at affordable prices. “Profits from the shops support school visits to our one planet centre and tree planting projects across Monmouthshire.
The initiative has achieved some impressive milestones, including the refurbishment of its 1000th bicycle recently. Thanks to volunteer Chris, a wide range of bikes have been restored and given a new lease of life before being sold at affordable prices. Chris is just one of a team of fantastic volunteers who, with staff, help run the shops. In addition to bicycles, shoppers can also find furniture, books, toys, games, gardening equipment, clothing, collectables and PAT-tested small electrical goods amongst the items on sale.
Cllr Catrin Maby, Monmouthshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and the Environment, said: “Every item bought from our Reuse Shops is one less item going to waste and one less new product needing to be manufactured.
Reaching our 1,000th bicycle refurbishment is a fantastic milestone, and we’d love people to help shape the next chapter of this success story by completing our survey.”
The Llanfoist Reuse Shop (NP7 9AQ) is open Tuesdays, 10am-4pm, and Five Lanes Reuse Shop (NP26 5PD) is open Wednesdays, 10am-4pm – booking is not required. Find out more at www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/recycling-and-waste/reuse-shop/.
