Swap unwanted Christmas gifts online in Swansea

Residents in Swansea are being encouraged to use an online swap site to swap unwanted Christmas gifts for something they want.

Swansea Council operates the Swap Shop website which has already seen more than 10,000 items swapped between residents in Swansea since the site was developed.

A vast range of household items have changed hands including TVs, tumble driers, trampolines, bunk beds and potted plants.

Residents have also logged on to exchange more obscure items including a speedboat, a caravan and some vintage Mumbles Railway uniforms.

Now the council is giving residents the opportunity to use the site following the Christmas period where it’s likely some have received gifts that they don’t want.

David Hopkins, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transportation said: “The website has proved very useful for residents who are looking to swap unwanted items for something they want.

“It’s also helped to divert items away from landfill sites, which is one of the key reasons we developed it in the first place.

“Now the Christmas period is beyond us, the site could be a great way of passing on some of the unwanted gifts people have had and getting something more useful.”

The Council is also reminding residents that are having a post-Christmas clear out to make use of the Corner Shop at Llansamlet Household Recycling Centre. The shop is full of items residents originally intended to throw away but have been placed in the shop to sell and diverted away from landfill.

Cllr Hopkins added: “The shop has also been very successful in helping to capture household items destined for landfill. It’s startling to see the amount of things that people throw away which could easily go to another home.