AN ‘innovative’ reuse store which sells items discarded at recycling centres has celebrated after generating more than £100,000 in sales.

The New to You shop salvages items taken to recycling centres and resells them in the store in Cabot Lane, Poole.

In 2023, the store generated more than £103,000 in sales from the shop and its eBay store, saving items from going to landfill.

Approximately 46 tonnes of waste was diverted from landfill across the year.

New to You also expanded its support for community groups, providing old wooden furniture to Canford Heath group Poole Men’s Shed.

This offers a social space for volunteers to meet and work on practical projects that benefit the community.

Bournemouth Echo: new to you is in Poole.

Items old include a Buben and Zorweg watch winder and display base going for £900 and £800 respectively, Marshall Celestion speakers for £1,600 and a Rukka motorcycle jacket for £545.

It is owned and operated by BCP Council and run by a small team of staff and volunteers.

Laura Neil, commercial waste manager at the council said: “It has been a very successful and rewarding year for ‘new to you’.

“Throughout 2023 we consistently expanded our customer base while remaining dedicated to supporting local social support agencies, providing furniture and general household items whenever possible, including donating our unsold items to Julia's House Children's Hospice Charity shop in Poole.

“We also strengthened our position as a reputable retail outlet for reuse items, and I would like to thank our volunteers for their hard work and dedication throughout the year. Their commitment has been instrumental in making our achievements possible.”

Rob Kingman of Poole Men’s Shed said: “We make and repair items mainly from wood using timber that has been recovered in the shop. This keeps us busy on Wednesdays when we meet up. We’re happy to welcome new members to Poole Men’s Shed, and our regular visits to ‘new to you’ ensure we always find new things to work on.”

Councillor Andy Hadley, portfolio holder for climate response, environment and energy, said: “new to you is great example of a council-run project benefitting the wider community, with the money raised, over and above the running costs, going to worthwhile council services for local people in need, in addition to helping local charities and community groups.”