Â£699 wedding dress saved from recycling

Councillors and waste management staff try out some of the handy items on sale at the reuse shop. At the table (L-R) Louise Taylor, corporate director for operations and delivery, CC Jenny Mein, leader of Lancashire County Council, CC Marcus Johnstone, cabinet member for environment, planning, and cultural services.

A wedding dress still bearing its original £699 price-tag is one of many items which have already been rescued from the skips and put on sale at a newly-opened shop at Preston Household Waste Recycling Centre.

The shop will ensure potentially useful things are saved from being thrown away, ensuring less waste is sent to landfill, as well as providing an affordable source of basic goods.

After being separated by staff at the Tom Benson Way facility in Ingol, the items are checked, cleaned up, and if necessary repaired before being put on sale.

The re-use shop began trading in January but was officially opened on Wednesday by County Coun Marcus Johnstone, cabinet member for environment, planning, and cultural services.

He said: “It’s great to recycle, but it’s even better to reduce the amount we throw away in the first place, and to re-use things which are still of value before they become what we normally think of as waste.

“This will not only ensure less waste is sent to landfill, but provide somewhere people can pick up the everyday things they need, at prices they can afford.

“I was intrigued to learn that in the short time the shop has been open it has already rescued a wedding dress which had been thrown in the skips.

“The dress still had its price tag attached showing it was originally bought for £699.

“It seems this could be just the place to visit if you want to find an unusual bargain.”

The shop is open from 10am to 4pm Wednesday to Sunday.

It will stock items including soft and hard home furnishings, toys and sports equipment, and bric-a-brac.

LCC already runs a similar project at Garstang reccylcing centre.