HOMELESSNESS charity Emmaus Mossley is marking Recycle Week 2019 by celebrating the waste reduction efforts of its community members and raising awareness of how best to reuse or dispose of unwanted household items.

In the six-month period from April, 2019 to September, 2019, the organisation has reduced the amount of waste deposited to landfill by 91 per cent compared to the same period in 2017.

The reduction is as a result of improved processes, awareness raising, a new retail area and better management of stock and incoming donations, it says.

Emmaus Mossley is supporting Recycle Now’s Recycle Week campaign, running this week until Sunday.

The charity says it is taking the opportunity to educate members of the public on the importance of reducing consumption, reusing what you can and recycling.

Steve Reynolds, deputy community leader, who oversees waste management at Emmaus Mossley, said: “This Recycle Week we’re keen to celebrate our own efforts and try to educate those who may not be aware of the reasons we cannot accept certain items.

“Unfortunately, sometimes people unknowingly donate unsuitable items or simply use us as an alternative to the tip. We do try to accept most household items, more so than many other charities, but unfortunately, we cannot accept items that are broken, unsafe, illegal to resell or unsaleable.

“Disposing of items that have been donated to us but are not suitable for sale or reuse, can be very costly when you add up the tipping costs, petrol, time and staffing needed.

"These are resources that can be better used within our charity, so we are keen to raise awareness with those who donate items to us.

"For anyone unsure of what we can or cannot accept please visit our website first before dropping items off or arranging a collection.”

Emmaus Mossley supports 26 formerly homeless people by providing them with a home and work in a community setting.

The charity runs a large social enterprise in Mossley, selling donated and upcycled furniture, household goods, clothes and vintage wares.

Throughout Recycle Week, Emmaus Mossley is offering items and materials for sale that may otherwise have been sent to landfill and on Saturday (September 28), the charity will be holding a one-day sale throughout its Secondhand Superstore.

Alison Hill, director of Emmaus Mossley, said: “Our whole community has been working hard to reduce the amount of waste we send to landfill. It’s a big team effort that has included much improvement in our warehouse, better recycling rates, the launch of our Scrap Shed area and more items being transformed in our workshop and by our weekly upcycling volunteers.

“We also couldn’t have achieved this waste reduction without our local supporters, customers and people who donate good quality items. By us all working together, we’re reducing waste to landfill, reducing costs to the taxpayer, doing our bit for the environment and helping to sustain the support offered by Emmaus Mossley.”

Now in its 17th year, Recycle Week is a celebration of recycling, organised by WRAP under the Recycle Now brand. The aim of the week is to encourage the public to recycle more, by demonstrating the benefits of recycling items from all around the home.

To find out more or support Emmaus Mossley head to www.emmaus.org.uk/mossley.

For more information about Recycle Week visit www.recyclenow.com.