A NEW centre is set to open in Chingford to help residents beat the recession and recycle more.

The ‘Re-use Centre’, run by environmental services company May Gurney, will offer used bikes from as little as £10 and books and CDs from just 5p.

Located at the council's waste disposal site in King’s Road, the centre will also sell items such as furniture, doors, golf clubs and even vintage record players.

A spokeswoman for May Gurney said: “The old saying goes ‘one man’s junk is another man’s treasure’ and at difficult economic times, this couldn’t be more true.”

Rather than taking direct donations, staff at the centre will search through items left for recycling, and pick out things they believe could be sold and re-used.

Items are then priced up and put on sale in a bid to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill and encourage residents to re-use as well as recycle.

The spokeswoman added: “It is intended that a percentage of the profits made will be donated to local charities and community projects.”

The site opens to the public on Friday April 10 with an auction to raise money for the Sea Cadets, who meet at nearby Pimp Hall Nursery.

An official launch event is also to be held on April 14 and cabinet member for environment Cllr Bob Belam will be given a tour of the new site.

He said: “We want residents to re-use more as it is even better than recycling and can have a greater beneficial impact on the environment because it uses fewer resources and less energy.”

Rudi Van Langenaeker, project manager for May Gurney, added: “Our recycling advisors are very good at spotting things that are in perfectly good condition and can be given a good home by someone else.

“There’s the opportunity to pick up some good-as-new items at really affordable prices.”

The re-use centre will be open Friday to Sunday, between 10am and 2pm. Prices vary depending on the condition of items.

May Gurney manage waste disposal sites in waltham Forest.