CONWY County Borough Council is working with local social enterprise Crest to help residents recycle unwanted items, rather than adding them to landfill.

Residents are using the Council’s bulky waste collection service, which is run by Crest, to recycle household objects such as sofas, fridges, lawnmowers and beds. The bulky waste collection service costs £20 for up to four items, with an extra two items at £5 each.

Crest’s qualified technicians repair and test recycled household appliances such as washing machines, cookers and freezers, which are then put on sale at the Crest shop or donated to families in crisis.

“We recently helped out a local family who lost everything in a house fire. We were able to donate furniture and appliances to help them restart their home,” said Rod Williams, General Operations Manager at Crest.

“We offer a delivery and installation service, with a 12 month warranty on all pre-loved white goods, not just for items we donate but also for appliances bought from our shops.”

But it’s not just the new owners buying them at affordable prices who benefit from the unwanted items collected from households.

Engineering students from Coleg Llandrillo attend Crest on a one day a week placement, to get practical, hands on experience.

Crest also employs adults with learning or physical disabilities, and provides training and volunteering opportunities to help people back to work, including ex-offenders and Forces veterans.

“It’s amazing to think how much can be done with a fridge or a cooker that someone doesn’t need anymore,” says Cllr Donald Milne, Cabinet Member for Environment, Roads and Facilities.

“It’s not just about saving it from landfill, repairing it and finding a new home for it. It’s also the positive benefits that Crest creates for local people along the way.”