The city is looking for volunteers to staff the new swap shop, set to open at the transfer station next month.
Modeled after the enduringly popular swap shop in Cape Elizabeth, the city of South Portland plans to open a similar operation at its newly revamped transfer station off Highland Avenue sometime this June.
Right now, said Doug Howard, director of public works in South Portland, the city is seeking volunteers willing to staff the shop. Duties would include keeping the shop floor organized, assisting residents who drop off or take away items and ensuring that the rules are followed.
Volunteers do not need to commit to a certain number of hours working at the swap shop, Howard said, although he would “like some consistency with scheduling.” As of now, he said, the swap shop would be open a couple days a week and every Saturday.
Training for volunteers will also be offered. Howard said when the new swap shop opens will depend on the number of volunteers who sign up. The training will include an overview of the rules and regulations governing the shop and transfer station, as well as various safety measures.
Although it’s not yet open, the city’s new swap shop building is built and ready to go. The 20-foot by 20-foot structure is similar to the shop building in Cape, with two bay doors offering easy access.
Howard said the swap shop was added to the new transfer station at the request of residents. He said the idea is for residents to be able to drop off and swap items that still have a useful life.
“It is not designed for businesses or contractors,” he said. “And, not everything can go into the shop. It will be up to the person who is staffing the swap shop to say yes or no. The swap shop is (also) not designed to avoid paying tipping fees to dispose of items. Items must have use left in them in order to be accepted.”
Although Howard is still in the process of creating the rules for the new swap shop, he did say that no hazardous waste, no large appliances, such as washers, dryers or refrigerators, and no bulky furniture, such as couches, would be allowed.
Those rules are similar to the guidelines for the swap shop in Cape Elizabeth, which also doesn’t take televisions, computers, mattresses, tires or anything that is broken and unusable.
Cape residents are asked to keep their swap-shop visit to 15 minutes and to limit their visits to once a day.
The Cape Elizabeth Swap Shop was established in 1996 and quickly became a staple at the town transfer station. Last Friday, the place was buzzing with activity, as residents came and went looking for everything from books to board games, sports equipment, kitchen utensils and lamp shades.
Beth Cary, a volunteer at the Cape Elizabeth Swap Shop, said what she most likes about the operation is the social aspect, as residents meet and mingle while looking for just the right item, whether it be a candle holder or a decorative wreath for the front door.
Cary was a regular at the swap shop before she began volunteering several years ago. As the mother of two young children, she appreciates the opportunity to pick up toys or other play items that engage her kids and that she doesn’t have to buy new.
“It’s nice to re-home as many useful items as possible” she said, “while also satisfying the inner treasure hunter.”
She called the swap shop “a rotating gallery, sort of like a lending library” where “most items that come in go right back out again for the right price.”
Cary said items like figure skates, children’s toys and seasonal decorations seem to be the most popular.
Saturday is generally the busiest day of the week for both the swap shop and the transfer station, although whenever the shop is open, “people are in and out all the time,” she said.
A closer look
The South Portland Public Works Department is seeking volunteers to staff the new swap shop at the transfer station of Highland Avenue. Residents interested in helping out should call 767-7635 or email publicworks@southportland.org.
The South Portland swap-shop building, located at the transfer station, is ready for a possible June opening.
Knickknacks are among the items available at the popular Cape Elizabeth Swap Shop.
Children’s toys are among the most popular items at the Swap Shop in Cape Elizabeth.
South Portland plans to implement similar rules to the ones posted at the swap shop in Cape Elizabeth.
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