Why we are re-using items
In 2022 to 2023, we reached a reuse, recycling, and composting rate of 59%. However, only 0.02% of this material was sent for reuse.
In line with the national waste hierarchy, we are keen to focus more on reuse, supporting the circular economy, and and our core priority of Improving People's Lives.
Many items are brought to our recycling centres because they are no longer wanted, not necessarily because they are no longer usable. We want to ensure nothing is needlessly wasted.
Find us at Worlds End Lane, Keynsham, BS31 1TW
(Access via Worlds End Lane)
Opening hours
Day | Hours |
---|---|
Monday | Closed |
Tuesday, Wednesday Thursday, and Friday | 9am to 3.30pm |
Saturday | 9.30am to 3pm |
Sunday | Closed |
Bank holidays | Closed |
The shop may be temporarily closed between 12pm and 1pm for operational reasons as required.
Who can use the reuse shop
The reuse shop can be accessed by anyone during opening hours. However, if you are not a resident of Bath and North East Somerset you will not be able to drive into the recycling centre and must therefore, park locally and enter by foot. If you purchase a large item, the shop staff can contact the gate attendant and grant you permission for your vehicle to collect the item.
Make a donation
You can donate items for reuse at any of our three recycling centres. Items must be clean, unbroken, and in working condition.
We are accepting donations of:
- furniture
- garden equipment
- DIY equipment
- sports equipment
- toys
- bric-a-brac
- mirrors
- picture frames
- bikes
- scooters
We do not accept:
- Upholstered items without a fire safety label
- Safety equipment e.g. car seats, helmets
- Items that use fuel
- Bed pillows and duvets
- Carpets, rugs, blankets, curtains, and bedding (unless in new condition)
- Blinds with pull cords
- Cots with sides that lower.
- Some electrical appliances including TV’s, monitors, printers, heaters, straighteners, slow cookers, halogen ovens and air fryers.
Our storage space is limited. Therefore, if an item is accepted depends on our stock level, its condition, style, and current buying trends.
If you are unsure whether an item can be donated, you can ask a member of staff on site.
Donated items will be sold in our shop, distributed to local charities, or donated for reuse via our Welfare Support teams.
Paying for items
If you are in our reuse shop and wish to purchase an item, you will need the ticket number displayed on the item to make a payment. You can then use the ticket number to make a payment online. Alternatively, you can pay with a card at our customer support desk.
The money we raise goes toward the running costs of the shop, such as staff wages. It’s a very new initiative, but if we make any residual income we will invest this to further improve our recycling services. We also work with many charities including Bath Share and Repair, Mercy in Action, Small Stuff Baby Bank, and internal Council welfare teams. We store and pass on any items that we feel may be of benefit to them.
Other ways to reuse items
If you have a broken item you’d like to get back into use, the Repair Cafes held across Bath and North East Somerset may be able to help. You can find out more on their website.
To avoid buying new altogether, Bath’s Library of Things allows you to borrow useful things for your home, projects, and adventures. Find out more on their website.
There are many charity shops based in B&NES that will accept good quality unwanted items. The funds raised from the sale of these items will go on to help others in need. To find out more about the charities and their donation points please follow the links below:
- Age UK
- Bath Cats & Dogs home
- Bernardo’s
- British Heart Foundation (Free furniture collection)
- British Red Cross
- Cancer Research UK (Free furniture collection)
- Cat’s Protection
- Children’s Hospice South West
- Dorothy house (Free furniture collection)
- Great Western Air Ambulance
- Genesis Trust (Free furniture collection)
- Julian House / Bath Women’s Refugee Shop
- Mind
- Mercy in Action
- Oxfam
- PDSA
- Save the Children
- Shaw Trust
- St Peter’s Hospice (Free furniture collection)
- The Goldies Sing & Smile Charity Shop
Many local communities have set up local buying pages or free to collect pages. There are also apps that can be downloaded to sell or offer your items for free.