WORK EXPERIENCE: Volunteering at Wastesavers' recycling centre

I FIRST set eyes on Wastesavers’ sprawling reuse centre at its launch event in Newport last month.

Whether it was the fact that Great Uncle Bulgaria was in attendance that day or because the centre’s many volunteers have painstakingly refurbished a wide range of furniture, I felt compelled to return and get my hands dirty.

On the day of the aforementioned launch event, hundreds of locals passed through the doors, intrigued and impressed. At a time when luxury goods are a premium, Wastesavers offers a genuine alternative, having restored and refurbished a variety of donated goods at discount prices.

The new centre is a merger of the Wastesavers project at the Community Furniture Shop in Pill and E-Inclusion Recycling, a community interest company.

Upon arrival on a misty morning, I’m warmly greeted by Christopher Southern, 53, the centre’s reuse and volunteer manager.

Spotting that I’m unsuitably dressed for the occasion, Mr Southern sources a fetching Wastesavers fleece that I was sorry to hand over by the end of my hour “shift”.

The centre is divided into four main mini-centres – computers; furniture upcycling, furniture cleaning and furniture display.

A team of volunteers, usually around seven per shift, assist, encourage, and cajole me as I move my way around to each station. Within minutes, I sense the immense camaraderie of the group.

The first thing on the menu is the sanding of old furniture. This, by far, looks the most appealing station and a chance to let off some early morning steam. Handed a pair of safety glasses and a mask – which proved embarrassingly tricky to fasten – I set about sanding down an old table.

Worryingly therapeutic, after just a few minutes of sanding, a tiny section of a once discoloured wood looks fresher and more appealing. Within days, this piece could be fully sanded, varnished, and painted. Within weeks, it could be sitting in someone’s home.

Victor Key, 31, a volunteer at the centre, said that seeing one of his creations eventually sold is one of the things he loves about the job.

He said: “I love working with the old furniture that comes in, as its stronger wood and you can play around with it. It’s nice to see someone buy something you’ve just restored, too. It makes you proud.

“Some of the furniture needs sanding, while some has chipped paint that just needs to be rubbed down and given a clean. After a day’s work here, you feel pretty good about yourself.”

As I remove my dusty goggles, I’m quickly ushered to the nearby computer station, where close to 100 computers are stacked on top of each other.

As well as the computers being sold as working units, they can be taken apart and individual pieces are then sold on eBay. Anything not reusable is broken down into separate materials and recycled.

One of the technicians, Craig Dennis, 23, shows me the inside of a classic, desktop Dell.

With very little prior knowledge of what exactly is behind a computer, I’m quickly struck by the rainbow of colours inside.

Mr Dennis tells me that, to the untrained eye, most of the parts look quite similar but some circuits are worth more than others.

As this model is modular – as opposed to screw operated – it is quite easy to unclip different parts.

With the natural fear that I may break something, I’m very cautious but I am quickly encouraged by my colleagues, who tell me to “go crazy”. Before I know it, I have a set of souvenirs to take home – a random collection of multi-coloured wires.

Mr Dennis is one of Wastesavers’ full-time employees and has been working for the firm for nearly two years. He said he loves his job.

He said: “When I went for the interview, I liked how Wastesavers were doing social programmes like digital inclusion for over-50s and the like.

“I love working here.

“It’s a really nice environment to work in and it helps a lot of people and we have a lot of volunteers who come to work for us.

“They learn some great basic skills that prepare them for a job. It’s quite nice to give back to the community.”

The final stop on the tour – aside from an impromptu lifting of a couch, where I learn about the importance of health and safety and a straight back – is a spot of couch cleaning.

I’m presented with a yellow vacuum cleaner.

However, upon closer inspection, there is a dispenser attached to the nozzle, which is filled with soap.

Used on faded or stained couches, the cleaner quickly brightens up a once mundane piece of furniture. Within just five minutes of using the cleaner, a once yellow patch has a cream tint.

It soon occurs to me that on a daily basis, numerous items that were once classed as faded or old soon become appealing and attractive.

“It’s nothing short of an art.

Following an enjoyable tour, the centre’s manager, Mr Southern, tells me that the Wastesavers’ philosophy is as much about providing opportunities as it is refurbishing furniture.

He said: “We have items come in and we know that it would not take much to restore them.

“What we’re doing here is just to provide opportunities – as much as raising the value of products.

“Our workers and volunteers have got real skills and ideas to take on an item and make it more interesting.

“It’s a chance to showcase their personal flair.

“It is a bit of an art.

“It would be great to take them all on; it’s difficult because we’re here to give people experience so we sort of need people to be coming and going for those opportunities to stay.

“We have created some work roles and some of the volunteers have applied for them and they have an advantage, having worked for the organisation – even though it went to open recruitment.

“Our core aims are to stop stuff going into landfill but we want to provide opportunities for people and, since June, we’ve had over 40 volunteers working with us.

Having gained a unique insight into the Wastesavers’ philosophy, it’s easy to see why so many volunteers want to get involved.