Charity taking over re-use shop in Maesteg’s community recycling centre

Homelessness charity Emmaus South Wales is working in partnership with Bridgend County Borough Council and Kier to take over the ‘The Siding’ re-use shop at Maesteg’s community recycling centre.

The Siding, in the Heol Ty Gwyn Industrial Estate, first opened in February 2020 and was operated by Wastesavers Charitable Trust before the pandemic forced it closed.

Emmaus South Wales has taken over the operation and reopened The Siding on Monday 31 January 2022, offering a haven for bargain hunters and the opportunity for locals to ensure their unwanted items go to a good home rather than a skip.

Visitors to Maesteg’s recycling centre can now donate any items that are in good, saleable condition to The Siding, rather than throwing them away.

All donated items will be resold through the shop by Emmaus at affordable prices, meaning a new home is found for them rather than contributing to landfill waste.

Emmaus is experienced with collecting and selling second-hand items, with three long-standing shops in Bridgend Town and Porthcawl.

All profits from the sale of re-useable items at The Siding will go to the charity, which helps support people out of homelessness by providing a home, meaningful work, funded training, and daily support.   

The Siding was originally named to recognise the Llynfi valley’s mining past - a siding was where all the coal was loaded into the rail truck ready for transportation to the docks. The charity will be keeping the name as ‘The Siding by Emmaus South Wales’.

We are excited to be re-opening The Siding at Maesteg community recycling centre.

Our aim is to provide meaningful work for the formerly homeless people we support so they can build confidence, learn new skills, and add to their CV.

They will be helping to run the shop and we aim to divert as much from landfill as possible. We’re looking forward to meeting the local residents and can’t wait to provide a new home for all the treasures we get in.

Marc Roberts, Head of Retail at Emmaus South Wales

Bridgend County Borough Council’s deputy leader, Hywel Williams, said: “We would like to thank the community of the Llynfi valley for the support and enthusiasm they have showed for The Siding.

“We would also like to thank our partners Emmaus South Wales and Kier for their support and commitment to The Siding.

“Unwanted household items which are in good condition can be donated at the Siding and put to good use while raising funds for important social initiatives.

“The re-use shop will accept anything that has re-use potential. I am certain that people will want to visit Maesteg’s new re-use facility again and again.”

The Siding by Emmaus South Wales will be open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10am to 4pm and can be found at Heol Ty Gwyn Industrial Estate, CF34 0BQ, Maesteg.

For more information, visit the Emmaus South Wales website.

To check what can and can’t be recycled at Maesteg’s community recycling centre the council’s website.