KIND-HEARTED residents across the district donated an impressive 5,800 items to be recycled for Bromsgrove families in need last year.

Furniture, bric-a-brac and bicycles were just a few of the objects donated at the district's Quantry Lane tip that were then reused by Newstarts, a social enterprise that provides free furniture, emergency food and household supplies to less fortunate residents in the Bromsgrove district.

The donations also meant that around 105 tonnes of waste were diverted from landfill.

Bromsgrove district councillor Roger Smith, whose portfolio covers environmental services, said: "It's great to see residents donating household items that still have life left in them, rather than throwing them away. These donations are really useful to people in need, and it means spending less money on landfill too."

Quantry Lane is one of 11 tips in the county where household items can be left to be collected and used by local charities.

Jim Haywood, director of Severn Waste Services, added: "We are thrilled to see so many Worcestershire residents considering what to do with their unwanted items and deciding to pass it on. By continuing to work with local charities we hope to divert more waste from landfill to reuse in the future."

Bromsgrove's re-use facility can also accept soft furnishings with a fire safety label. It cannot take electrical items for reuse but these can be recycled in a dedicated skip on site.

For more information on reuse containers and what they can accept, visit letswasteless.com.