The UK is pushing to become a net-zero country by 2050 with £90 billion of investment promised by the government as part of its plan to end the country's contribution to climate change.
But as the UK looks to move towards a more sustainable future, it's clear that additional effort needs to be taken in order to tackle the problem of furniture disposal and improving ways in which used goods can be welcomed into new homes or disposed of in a more eco-friendly way.
According to the European Environmental Bureau, 90% of all furniture ends up being incinerated or taken to landfill, both of which lead to pollution and have a negative impact on the environment.
In addition, research carried out by North London Waste Authority (NLWA) revealed that 22 million items of furniture, 28 million toys and 11,000 bicycles are thrown away each year as a result of damage.
The study also found that less than one in 10 attempt to restore their broken items, contrary to the 42% of people who said they would like to learn the skills in order to repair damaged goods.
Looking to give pre-loved goods a new home is Kingsley-based "reuse shop" Timewarp Reclaim Reuse, Northampton's only council licensed family fun recycle reuse shop.
The store, located on Milton Street, Kingsley, was set-up in 2019 with the aim to save as many unwanted goods as possible from the landfill, to help the local community and play a part in saving the planet.
Take a step into Timewarp and you'll find various items including vinyl records, retro and antique pieces, golf clubs, homeware and furniture all at an affordable price.
Rose Reynolds, co-owner of Timewarp, told The Kingsley Courier how the store came about and how it looks to serve the community.
She said: “We got a contract at Sixfields Recycling Center, in which we pay the council each month to be able to bring anything that's sellable back to the store.
“In the first few months initially we used to have a little shop just off of Wellingborough Road, but we realised quickly the volume of the items we were getting it just wasnt big enough. So we found out that [our current premises] was empty so we got the keys."
She also revealed that it's not just Northampton locals who wish to get their hands on some bargain furniture or antiques, with Reynolds revealing the store welcomes customers from out of town.
“We have a lot of people travelling in from quite a way, Milton Keynes, Towcester, Kettering, because we’re the only county council approved reuse shop in Northampton," she added.
"All sorts of people come and use us, a lot of people who have quite a low-income come in and have a look. The council also refer a lot of people to us who may have had to flee things like domestic abuse who are trying to start up afresh.
“Some of the furniture we get needs a bit of TLC. We have a lot of upcyclers that come and buy cheap pieces of furniture and give it a new life. We try and price everything to sell.
"You can spend fifty pence or fifty pounds, we've got virtually everything you could want."
Just some of the broad range of products the store has to offer
WhiWhile customers are able to bag inexpensive items for their homes and hobbies, Timewarp is also helping those on lower-incomes or people looking for a bargain a way to decrease their carbon footprint.
Data from Statista reveals that in 2020 over 836,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide was released into the atmosphere just through UK-based furniture manufacturing alone, meaning that choosing second-hand options is one of the most environmentally-friendly options when it comes to new additions to your home.
With the date of net-zero looming just over 25 years away, stores like Timewarp may become a more viable option for people looking to add new features to their home.
Timewarp Reclaim Reuse can be found on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/timewarpreclaimreuse/
Do you live in Kingsley and have a story to tell? Contact us at thekingsleycourier@gmail.com
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