Tip staff are donating a defibrillator every month to charities and community groups

Charity sales of bric-a-brac and bicycles at Grimsby tip raise thousands of pounds each year for charities, community groups and other good causes.

Both sites are managed by North East Lincolnshire Council’s waste management contractor Newlincs Development Ltd.

The company is installing defibrillators at both tips and staff thought donating devices to community groups and charities could help save lives in the area.

Operations director Sharon Hunt said:

“We support lots of local good causes with money raised from our charity sales.

“People bring lots of junk to the tips but often they also bring items in perfectly good condition, and sometimes real rarities.

“We sell everything from pre-loved bikes, children’s toys and golf clubs to armchairs, guitars and garden furniture.

“A number of valuable items found at the tip over the years, including an antique desk, a high-end fishing rod, road and mountain bikes and a Buddha statue.

“After defibrillators have been in the news so much lately, we thought we would use the money we raise to buy them and offer them to community groups.”

Any organisation, charity or community group who would benefit from a defibrillator, should contact Sharon to express an interest by email at sharonhunt@grimsbyops.com.

North East Lincolnshire is served by two tips, also known as Community Recycling Centres or CRCs, one in Grimsby and one in Immingham. Both sites are open daily from 8am to 6pm.

About 650 vehicles visit Grimsby tip every day, that’s about a quarter of a million visits each year.

Staff have decorated the site with a holiday theme for the summer, complete with its very own tyre palm tree.

Cllr Stewart Swinburn, portfolio holder for Environment and Transport at the Council, added:

“Staff at the community recycling centres do a massive amount of work to help raise money for charity.

“With their junk models they always make the sites fun and welcoming to visit, and it all helps promote recycling.

“At Christmas they raised more than £10,500 in donations for their amazing festive decorations and sales of bric-a-brac and bikes bring in thousands of pounds each year – all from things people are throwing away.

“It’s a great idea to use this money to provide defibrillators for the community and help save lives.”

For more details about taking your waste and recycling to the tips, visit www.nelincs.gov.uk/tips.

ENDS

PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured at Grimsby Tip are Matty Harlow, Will Woolliss, Lorna Lepley and Sharon Hunt.