The Reviva Reuse Shop is renowned for rehoming and recycling preloved goods destined for landfill, but the products aren't the only ones getting a second chance – employees, the community and the planet are all benefitting from the service as well.

More and more people are choosing to shop second-hand as a more sustainable and affordable option. Over 15,000 people used the Reviva service in the last financial year, but Reviva Dunmore manager Jarrod Roskell said many customers are still shocked by how much is on offer.

"They're definitely surprised," he said. "I think by being surprised too, it sort of brings awareness to reuse and recycling too, they don't have to go to a shop and buy something brand new."

"When you see quality items like you see in our bric a brac shed, and sometimes when you give them a polish or a clean up, it's all it needs."

Jarrod said Reviva serves the whole community, from elderly people to young couples needing furniture for their first home, while also diverting waste from landfill.

Recently it's also been able to spread some Christmas cheer after receiving five truckloads of supplies from Stockland Shellharbour, including Christmas trees, decorations and even Santa's sleigh itself.

"The amount of stuff that we've given out the Shellharbour community at a really hard time of the year for an affordable price, you can see on people's faces how much it actually means to them," he said.

Many items need little more than a wipe down or shine, but there are also plenty of projects to choose from for those with a passion for DIY.

Work can be completed right on-site at The Tinkerage, where customers can access tools and a workshed and expert advice.

"The people that come repair things and repurpose things that are retrieved from landfill," The Tinkerage coordinator Anita Johnson said. "Sometimes they bring things from home that are broken, bring them in and use the tools here to fix things and then take them back home again."

"We also run workshops here in skilling people to do with repair and reuse, things like upholstering, servicing bikes, mosaics, fixing chairs, sharpening things, bird houses, bee boxes, repurposing all kinds of things."