A new £5.2 million recycling site and re-use shop off Kirkstall Road will be officially opened on Friday.
The Kirkstall Road Recycling Site opened to the public in March, but the official opening will see Kirkstall ward councillor Lucinda Yeadon cut the red ribbon to officially open the site .
Cllr Yeadon will then put in place the first pieces of a mosaic wall made from re-used tiles to commemorate the event. Kirkstall Valley Primary School students will be on hand to help out and get the mosaic cracking.
Visitors can learn how to create fashionable shabby chic effects on old furniture thanks to upcycling workshop by Seagulls Paint.
The site – which is biggest and busiest recycling depot in Leeds – is also home to Revive Leeds re-use shop, which provides training, volunteering and apprenticeship opportunities for the community.
Such is the popularity of the Revive re-use shop it has already recruited 11 volunteers and provides two work placements. And new shoppers over the weekend will have the chance to enter a free draw to win vouchers of value £30, £20 and £10 to spend in the new store.
Louise Megson, of Revive Leeds, said:
“More and more people are searching for something special and unique. Thanks to Revive they are able to find it at an affordable price.
“Our latest shop in Kirkstall is proving very popular and we continue to grow along with our customer base. If you haven’t dropped in yet – come and pay us a visit you never know what you’ll find.”
The purpose-built 360 sq metre shop is run by the same voluntary partnership that manages the successful Revive Leeds shop at the council’s Seacroft recycling site. This new shop has its own dedicated car park and is also accessible on foot from Evanston Avenue.
Residents can recycle a wide range of wastes at the new split level public recycling area, which has 16 bays. The one-way system around the recycling area allows plenty of room for cars to prevent queuing on surrounding roads during busy periods.
Cllr Yeadon added:
“We want to encourage people to reuse their items so it’s great to see more items are being reused and recycled than ever before. In fact, the Revive shop has given new life to over eight tonnes of pre-loved household items and furniture in its first month alone.
“People are coming to the shop from far and wide to pick up a fashionable bargain or donate items they think others might want to give a new life to. This is an area that was really impacted by the floods so it is fantastic to see such community spirit and people thinking green.”
Details of opening hours, advice on what you can recycle and other information for all the council’s recycling facilities can be found here.