Veolia, Sutton Council, and Community Reuse are working together to give pre-loved clothing a new lease of life. A new trial will allow residents to donate and purchase second hand clothing on site, saving textiles from going to waste.
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Sutton residents visiting Kimpton Park Way Household Reuse and Recycling Centre (HRRC) can already recycle a wide range of materials, or donate items in good condition to the on-site Community Reuse shop.
This Spring, a new trial will support residents to donate pre-loved clothing directly to Community Reuse in dedicated containers placed outside the shop. The clothing will then be sorted and put up for sale for both residents and visitors to purchase at low prices. The clothing boutique is open daily from 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday, and between 9am to 1pm on Sunday.
Reusing clothing reduces the demand for new items, which means less energy and fewer raw materials are needed to produce them. By buying clothing second hand, residents can help preserve natural resources and reduce carbon emissions at the same time as saving money. This builds on the Community Reuse shop’s existing ethos of selling donated items with a discount scheme available for residents on low incomes or experiencing financial hardship.
Scott Edgell, General Manager for Veolia South London, said : “We’re excited to be trialling the sale of pre-loved clothing at our Kimpton Park Way HRRC in partnership with Community Reuse. The trial allows us to pursue ecological transformation by reusing items that would otherwise be recycled, saving energy in the recycling process and meaning fewer raw materials are needed to produce new items.
“We hope to see more residents make use of the fantastic service Community Reuse and the Household Reuse and Recycling Centre provide.”
Jennifer Sibley, Sutton Council’s Assistant Director for Environment & Planning, said: “It’s great to see this new clothing boutique opening for Sutton residents. Now people can both donate and buy second-hand clothing while they are dropping their recycling off!
“We want to help our residents during the cost of living crisis, as well as take action on climate change. Reusing is a great way to help reduce the harm to our environment and give unwanted clothes a new home.”
The Community Reuse shop is open to all and no booking is required before visiting. If visiting the Kimpton Park Way Household Reuse and Recycling Centre, residents are required to book at: www.sutton.gov.uk/w/household-reuse-and-recycling-centre-at-kimpton-park-way
