Community & Business
12 April, 2025
Renewed hope for recycle shop
ATHERTON’s buyback shop has been given a glimmer of hope after Tablelands Regional Councillor Maree Baade asked for a report on how the popular recycle market could be kept open.
The Recycle Market, which is located at the Atherton Transfer Station, has been operated by the Endeavour Foundation for the past decade, but at the end of last month, it was closed down after the organisation said it had become economically unviable.
When asked by The Express if the council would continue to run the operation, a spokesperson confirmed the organisation would not be taking over the operation as a broad second-hand or “buyback” shop.
“We will temporarily use the facility to store good-quality second-hand mattresses for donation to goodwill organisations,” the spokesperson said.
A community petition was launched in a bid to put pressure on the council to find a way to keep the market’s doors open, citing its usefulness in re-purposing items and its role as a meeting place for many in the community.
At council’s last meeting, Cr Baade raised the issue, asking for a report on how the council could keep the facility operating.
“I’ve had a lot of feedback from people concerned about the buyback shop being closed down,” she said.
“It’s a really good resource for the community, it keeps things out of landfill, and it’s a bit of a social outlet as well.”
A report on possible options to keep the recycle market open will be brought to the June council meeting.
