AN illuminated pond display and pole dancing set are among the more unusual items brought by residents to local household waste recycling centres in recent months. Staffordshire County Council’s waste recycling team is reminding people that homes can be found for all sorts of items through its Rescue Me pop-up sales – which last year raised over £17,000 for local charities and community organisations. Other include a set of African drums, framed World War Two medals, a bouncy castle and a bow and arrow set.
Efforts are now taking place to trace any family or relations to the owner of the medals, while other items will be donated to schools, libraries and other organisations or sold at the sales events.
Residents are also being reminded that any bikes taken to centres can be refurbished to be used again by county schoolchildren, while good quality furniture and household items can be used by the Care Leavers Hub – which distributes them to care leavers in the county to help them set up in a new home. Used IT equipment, medical aids and paint are all collected and reused by charities and across the community.
Cllr Andrew Mynors, cabinet member for connectivity at Staffordshire County Council, said:
"It’s fantastic that people are bringing so many items for reuse and recycling to our centres across the county – they can benefit so many people, and we work with a range of organisations to make that happen. "And of course, the team collects some interesting and not so common items which they will keep and direct to the most appropriate place so nothing is wasted. "We’re also reminding people of our innovative reuse initiatives at our household waste recycling centres. Through reuse of good quality items we can help make a difference in our communities."
