First zero waste shop in east Leeds opens on Garforth Main Street

Scott Cooper, 37, and his wife Angela, 40, launched Refill and Go on Main Street last August.

They have been visiting schools and working with other businesses on Garforth's high street to help the community cut back on plastic waste.

Customers are encouraged to bring containers and bottles and re-fill them with cereals, oils, grains, spices and other cupboard essentials.

Those with extra quantities of food or unwanted household items can donate to the Frefill and Go station, which is then donated to people in need.

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There are also a range of plastic alternatives and eco-friendly household goods, from reusable make-up pads and cleaning products to a second-hand book swap shop.

Scott said: "It's something I've wanted to do for quite some time and after I got made redundant we starting thinking about it properly.

"The idea started from emptying my car once and realising how many plastic bottles are wasted!

"We started making changes at home then changing the way we shopped, where we could, but there were no zero waste shops near us and we had to drive into the city centre."

Scott and Angela also visit local schools and Scouts and Brownie groups, giving children tips on how to recycle and showing them how the shop is run.

Scott added: "We get all sorts of people in, from children bringing in their parents to the elderly who might live alone and want smaller amounts of food."

Refill & Go is open on Main Street, Garforth, from 9.15am until 5pm Monday to Wednesday, 6pm on Thursday and Friday and 9am until 5pm on Saturday.