Charity shops selling second-hand articles are doing well. The Dutch association of charity shops, to which 240 shops belong, has just reported a five percent increase in profits over the same period last year. It says that second-hand items are fashionable because of the recession.

The association also points out that recycling not only helps protect the environment but also creates hundreds of jobs for people on the dole. However, it has warned that the huge demand is depleting the supply of second-hand goods for sale.

Photo: a charity shop (Flickr/greenish.nl)