Boost for reuse as Norwich South shop opens and new chosen charity revealed
The latest in Norfolk's growing chain of reuse shops opens today, Friday 25 March, at Norwich South recycling centre. The bright, spacious, purpose-built shop is set to save 100 tonnes of good quality second-hand items from being thrown away each year.
It has also been revealed today that Big C is the new chosen charity which will receive a cut of the proceeds from the reuse shops. Since the first reuse shop opened in King's Lynn in 2008 more than £35,000 has been raised for charities, including East Anglian Air Ambulance.
Norfolk's reuse shops welcome donations of good quality second-hand pieces and sell these on at car boot prices. Helping to give things a new home reduces the amount of unwanted items going to waste and income from sales in the shops helps to offset the cost of providing the recycling centre service.
Cllr Andy Grant, Norfolk County Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste, said: "It's lovely to have two things to celebrate today, as not only can we mark the opening of a wonderful new reuse shop that's set to help boost recycling, but also that a cut of all the sales from the reuse shops, right across Norfolk, will be going to our new chosen charity, Big C.
"I'd urge people to come and take a look in the new shop as you never know what you may find, from bikes to birdcages, and from bookcases to brilliant toys there's always a bargain to be had."
Norse Environmental Waste Services (NEWS), part of the Norse Group, operate all of Norfolk's 20 recycling centres.
NEWS Operations Director, Dave Newell, said: "The opening of the Reuse Shop at the Norwich South Recycling Centre further improves the network available to residents across Norfolk and enhances the opportunity to gain extended value from products that have been discarded by others that would in normal circumstances be destined for disposal. The recent opening of a Reuse Shop at the Norwich North Recycling Centre has been highly successful and we anticipate a similar response from the local residents in respect of this new facility".
Dr Chris Bushby, CEO of Big C, said, "We are delighted to have been named as the chosen charity for Norfolk County Council's reuse shops. Not only is this fantastic scheme helping to reduce waste and promote recycling, but it is also now helping those affected by cancer in the local area receive the support they need."
The Norwich North and Norwich South recycling centres both opened in 2021 providing improved facilities for the growing Greater Norwich area. They replaced the former smaller sites at Mile Cross and Ketteringham. The reuse shop at Norwich North opened last month and is the largest in the county.
Cllr David Bills, Local County Councillor for the Humbleyard Division, said: "This is great news. Ever since I was elected into local government some 14 years ago recycle/reuse has been on the agenda. It is to the credit of Norfolk County Council to have provided these facilities for so long. Many have made use of perfectly usable items no longer required by some people AND charities benefit as well. The location is excellent next to Harford Park and Ride and I am sure it will continue to be a success."
For more information on reuse shops, and to find the location and opening times of this, and all Norfolk's reuse shops, visit www.norfolk.gov.uk/reuseshop.
Further information
The opening of the Norwich North reuse shop means that fifteen of Norfolk's network of 20 recycling centres now have a reuse shop:
Ashill, Bergh Apton, Caister, Dereham, Heacham, Hempton, King's Lynn, Mayton Wood, Norwich North, Norwich South, Snetterton, Strumpshaw, Thetford, Wells-next-the-Sea, Wereham.
Other recycling centre improvements
- Relocating the sites at Sheringham and Wymondham to increase the size of these sites to improve recycling and access onto these popular recycling centres
- It is hoped to make improvements to the site at Morningthorpe (near Long Stratton) to increase the size of this site, or relocate it, to improve recycling and access onto this popular recycling centre
Big C
Big C is one of East Anglia's largest cancer charities, having raised £40 million since it was founded 40 years ago. Today, Big C's loyal supporters help the charity raise on average £3 million pounds every year to help those in our community who are affected by cancer.
Seven Cancer Support and Information Centres and Hubs, located in Norwich, King's Lynn, Great Yarmouth, Gorleston, Wells Community Hospital, Thetford Healthy Living Centre and the Peartree Centre in Halesworth, provide friendly, specialist, practical and emotional support for those with a cancer diagnosis and their families in a non-clinical environment. Services include professional counselling, complementary therapies, group therapy, wellbeing programmes, 'Ask the Nurse or Pharmacist' and welfare advice in partnership with Citizen's Advice.
Support is available via the Big C virtual centre, offering video 1:1 support, virtual support groups and over the telephone too, for those who can't travel to Big C's centres, or who prefer support from the comfort of their own home.
Big C is based in the heart of the Norwich Research Park, where the charity has helped to fund internationally significant research projects, greatly benefiting local people and having a global impact on our understanding of preventing and treating cancer.