Reuse donations scoop £22k for Big C charity

Norfolk residents and recycling centre staff were thanked yesterday for a significant £22,177 donation to Big C charity.

Norfolk’s popular chain of reuse shops at 15 recycling centres help stop unwanted goods being thrown away, and sell the good quality items at bargain car boot prices. A cut of the proceeds is donated to a chosen charity, which since April 2022 is Big C.

Councillor Eric Vardy, Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste, said: “I’d like to thank everyone who has donated and bought bargains over the past year, more than ever before, and for the dedicated site staff who have made it possible for the reuse shops to go from strength to strength. We’re proud that satisfaction with our sites is up to 85% with people particularly pleased with how clean and easy to use our recycling centres are.

“Reuse is even better than recycling as it gives items a new home, cutting waste and transport impacts by preventing the need for production of new products. We showcased the fantastic work of the reuse shops as part the launch of our climate strategy yesterday. If you’ve not visited one of our reuse shops do drop by as you never know what you may find!

Tom Holmes, Events and Engagement Manager at Big C said “A grateful thank you to everyone involved for this generous donation to Big C. The Reuse scheme is a force for good, cutting waste and promoting repurposing. On top of that it is raising significant funds for charity which will be valuable in Big C’s work supporting local people affected by cancer.”

In the 12 months between April 2022 and March 2023 the reuse shops raised £22,177 for the Big C cancer charity, prevented 1333 tonnes from materials of being thrown away and saved an estimated 1270 tonnes of CO2. This is because materials are reused again instead of being transported away for processing or disposal. It also means that fewer new natural materials are required to make new products, as reused products are given a second life.

Norse Environmental Waste Services (NEWS), part of the Norse Group, operate all of Norfolk’s recycling centres.

David Lake, Norse Operational Contracts Manager overseeing the 20 recycling centres managed by the Group across Norfolk, said, “The reuse shops have proved very popular. I’m proud of all our reuse shops’ work to ensure that good quality second-hand items are reused and not thrown away. By donating a proportion of the income raised, it’s lovely to be able to support the incredible work the ‘Big C’ does.”

For more information on your local reuse shop, visit their page.

The cheque for £22,000 from the Norfolk Reuse Shops is landed over to Antionia Grey from Big C (centre) by David Lake of NEWS (L), Cllr Lana Hempsall of Norfolk County Council (2nd L), Jenny Cross from Norfolk County Council (2nd R) and Karen Betts from NEWS (R)