Any profit from sales is used to fund more ‘waste-saving initiatives’ in North London
By Local Democracy Reporter Josh Mellor
A shop inside a Chingford recycling centre is selling “pre-loved” items to make people “rethink their waste”.
Second Time Around is based in Kings Road Reuse and Recycling Centre and is an “Aladdin’s Cave” of items saved from the scrapheap.
Sales assistant Carla Rossiter said she “begged” for a job at the shop after visiting for years due to her passion for “upcycling” or giving discarded items a new life.
The shop has been running since 2015 and the income from sales pays for the building’s upkeep and two full-time staff, with any spare reinvested into “waste-saving initiatives” by the North London Waste Authority.
Carla told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “Second hand doesn’t have to mean second best. We call everything here ‘pre-loved’ and find a new home for it.
“People say it’s like a treasure trove here. You can do really great stuff with pre-loved items – it’s not rubbish or junk, we often get really nice pieces.
“I’m a sales assistant but it’s more than that. We don’t just sell things, we connect with residents and find things for them that they will like.”
Giving an example, Carla said an “older gentleman” often comes to buy vintage wallpaper for his birdcage because it’s the only thing the birds won’t chew.
However, Carla added that the shop should ideally be a “last resort” after trying solutions like offering to swap with friends, using community groups on social media or charity shops – particularly for working electronics the shop can’t resell without having them safety tested.
She added that reuse and recycling is particularly important given the growing cost-of-living and climate crises.
For more information about the shop, which is open Wednesdays to Saturdays from 10am to 4pm, visit their website.
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