Community & Business
6 March, 2025
Recycle shop to close
ATHERTON’S recycle shop will close its doors at the end of April.
The operation, located at Tablelands Regional Council’s Atherton Waste Transfer Station, sells secondhand goods and has been operated for the past 10 years by the Endeavour Foundation.
Last week, the foundation confirmed it had been a “difficult decision” to close the market on 28 April due to it no longer being financially viable.
“For just over 10 years now, the Endeavour Foundation has successfully operated the recycle market, providing work opportunities and skills development for people with an intellectual disability, and reducing landfill, while offering a discount shop to the public,” Endeavour Foundation executive general manager of work, Shannon Foley, said.
“After many years of operation, we have conducted a thorough review of the site’s operational sustainability and, despite our efforts, the service has consistently failed to cover its costs, meaning it is no longer viable.”
Ms Foley said discussions had been held with employees, offering them employment opportunities at its Mareeba Business Solutions site.
“Although one door closes, we have opened the door to employment opportunities at our Mareeba Business Solutions site,” she said.
“Here, we continue our recycling efforts, in air conditioning dismantling, industrial cleaning cloth manufacturing, mattress recycling and document destruction.
“If our employees choose, we have jobs ready and waiting for them. If they choose an alternative option, we can offer a redundancy package.
“We are truly grateful for the community’s support over the years, and the positive impact our service has provided, not just to the environment, but in offering meaningful employment for people we support.”
A Tablelands Regional Council 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.
Mareeba Shire has its own buy back shop at the town’s waste transfer station which is proving to be extremely popular with locals.
On average each month, 80-100 items are sold, diverting 3.5 tonnes of goods from going into landfill each month.
The shop is only open on Saturdays from 10am to 1pm, but locals can take items to the shop every day of the week.
TRC says it has no immediate plans to open a similar operation in Atherton.
“We haven’t previously considered providing a buyback service but may consider this as part of future service reviews,” a spokesperson said.
“We are exploring other recycling activities that the Endeavour Foundation could assist us with.”
