Rye swap shop enjoys success

The initiative was set up by the Transition Rye Group and allows members of the public to bring unwanted items along to the regular sessions at St Mary’s Centre. It saves unwanted items from going into landfill.

Mike Peplar, from Transition Rye, said: “The last Swop Shop, on May 31, was a triple win event, benefitting those clearing out unwanted items, those picking up useful stuff for free, and the environment being helped through re-using things instead of throwing them away and buying new ones.

“This was the ninth Recycle Swap Shop to be held in Rye, and over 400kg of items were brought to the event – 89% of these were taken by visitors or passed on for sale at charity shops, 6% was recycled, and just 5% went into general waste.

“Since Transition Rye started running the Recycle Swap Shops with St Mary’s Ecology and the Tilling Green Residents Association, almost two and a half tonnes of items have been taken by visitors.”

People using the service don’t even have to bring things along to swop, they are welcome to come and take things away.

The organisers cannot take any mains electrical items and don’t bring items that are dirty, broken, dangerous or illegal.

If you missed the last one the next Recycle Swap Shop take place on Saturday July 26 at Tilling Green Centre and Saturday September 6 at St Mary’s Centre. They run from 9.30am - noon and items to be given away must be brought in by 11am.

More information can be found at www.transitionrye.org.uk.