Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) says residents have raised over £1million by donating their unwanted household items and buying second-hand through the Renew project.
The Renew scheme – which launched in 2021 as three shops based at recycling centres in Altrincham, Irlam and Oldham – sells items, from bikes to white goods, donated by residents at their local recycling centres.
The money raised in the shops, and online through the eBay store, is invested into the Recycle for Greater Manchester Community Fund and the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity. Through the Community Fund, GMCA says 66 projects across the city region have received a total of £660,000, with a further £300,000 donated to the Mayor’s Charity to combat homelessness across the city region.
GMCA says Community Fund projects combine ways of increasing recycling through community-led activities and programmes, such as repair cafes, composting workshops, textile upcycling, cookery courses and a podcast.
Cllr Tom Ross, GMCA lead for the Environment, Waste and Recycling, commented: “Greater Manchester is leading the way as we shift our mindset from seeing the things we no longer want as waste, and instead as a valuable resource that can be reused, repurposed or recycled.
Greater Manchester is leading the way as we shift our mindset from seeing the things we no longer want as waste.
“Greater Manchester residents have been instrumental in the success of the Renew project and with their help, I believe we can build a thriving, green and sustainable economy for the future.”
The Renew Hub, operated by SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK as part of the GMCA waste contract, has its central location in Trafford Park for sorting, repairing and upcycling the donations that come in from the 20 recycling centres across Greater Manchester.
GMCA says SUEZ has created new green jobs in the waste sector through the Hub, including retail, visual merchandising, and interior design, as well as recently employing two new furniture restoration apprentices, who will receive on-the-job training to upcycle and repair “pre-loved” items.
Reacting to the announcement, Dan Carolan, SUEZ Greater Manchester Contract Director, said: “It is a fantastic achievement to reach £1m in revenue since the Renew project launched.
“I’d like to thank Greater Manchester residents for donating items and shopping with Renew, as without their support none of this would be possible.”
