THOUSANDS of Conwy residents are set to benefit from the expansion of an electrical reuse centre.
Crest Co-operative’s Electrical Reuse Hub has relocated to bigger premises on Quinton Hazel Enterprise Parc in Mochdre. The social enterprise will be collecting unwanted fridges, freezers, ovens, washing machines, dryers and other white goods from the homes of Conwy residents.
The reclaimed items will be repaired and tested at the centre and will then be given a new lease of life.
Crest Co-operative launched an Electrical Reuse centre on Blackmarsh Road in Mochdre in November 2012. The demand for the service has increased since 2012, which has led to the opening of the new 10, 000 square ft reuse hub.
The community co-operative work on behalf of the local authority and offer a collection service for bulky furniture and electrical items to 55, 000 residents in the Conwy county. Small electrical items, including irons, hair dryers, toasters etc, are collected from the kerbsides of Conwy homes. Electrical engineers then work to repair and test the items, which are resold at Crest Co-operative’s two shops in Colwyn Bay and Llandudno.
Crest Co-operative’s Electrical Reuse Hub is an Approved Authorised Treatment Facility (AATF) and is one of the largest sites in North Wales. The team of staff has increased over the last 12 months and Crest Co-operative has recently appointed four new permanent members of staff. The centre has created work opportunities for volunteers, unemployed individuals on work placements with Crest Co-operative and local people have carried out their Mandatory Work Activity at the electrical reuse centre.
Sharon Jones, Chief Executive of Crest Co-operative, said: “In just one year we sold 1, 232 reclaimed electrical items. These items may have been destined for landfill without the service. Instead they were sold to members of the public in our shops.
“The expansion of the electrical reuse centre will allow us to repair and test more electrical items than ever before. This will reduce landfill and allow us to sell more reclaimed items at low prices to the community.”
Since 2012 Crest Co-operative has repaired, tested and reused 40% of the electrical items collected from members of the public. Items that cannot be resold are reused for parts or recycled.
Crest Co-operative is a social enterprise and retail sales support Crest’s enterprises and work in the community. The co-operative works to reduce landfill through reuse to people in the community.