Ipswich Re-Use shop moves back to Foxhall Recycling Centre after stint at Ancient House

A shop that re-sells goods left abandoned at recycling plants across Suffolk has returned to its original home after an extensive refurbishment.

The Ipswich Re-Use Shop is once again based at Foxhall Recycling Centre, located just outside Kesgrave, after a nearly two-month stint in Ancient House.

It moved into the grade-I listed building in the town centre on January 30, so the new shop could be put together.

Changes to the Re-Use Shop include a new design for the shop to make it more accessible, more space outside, customer parking and a canopy area – and it was even relocated within the site.

It sells a variety of items dumped at recycling centres across the county that would otherwise be destroyed or go to waste.

This includes furniture, sports equipment, kitchen supplies, books, toys, and other trinkets.

All proceeds from sales go towards the Benjamin Foundation, which supports young people in the area.

The store first opened in 2016.

Suffolk County Council said it had sold nearly 350,000 items in that time, equivalent to 2,429 tonnes to goods.

It also has a sister shop in Fornham Road, Bury St Edmunds.

Cllr Richard Smith said: “The Re-use shop will be a centrepiece of the new-look Foxhall recycling centre and I am very pleased to see it re-opening.

“It is an excellent place to find a bargain, help a very worthy cause and also play a part in the fight against waste.

“We are keen to encourage reuse and avoid waste, and by purchasing items from the Re-use Shop you not only extend the life and use of something instead of throwing it away you support a local charity undertaking important work throughout Suffolk.”

Foxhall Recycling Centre is still undergoing a £7.8m revamp, which is set to end either late this year or in early 2024.

In total, work could last 15 months, as the work is being done in stages so the centre can remain open.

Plans for the site include increasing capacity for cars and building a feeder lane from Foxhall Road onto the site to improve road safety.

Changes had been in the pipeline since 2020.

Paul Sinclair, the operations manager for The Benjamin Foundation, revealed the charity was thrilled to re-open the premises.

“We have loved our temporary home in the town centre at The Ancient House, which has been a fabulous opportunity to meet new people and tell them more about the work we do in Suffolk and Norfolk.

“We hope that many more people will visit the shop now it is back home, which provides a vital source of income to support local children, young people and families.”