There’s no doubt about it — the Christmas week probably generates more garbage than any other single time of the year.
But even as you cram those garbage bags full, there are probably items that don’t need to go to the landfill and can be recycled. And that’s where Edmonton’s Reuse Centre can help in our march towards environmental responsibility.
Located directly south of the CN Tower, the centre is part of the city’s master composter program dealing with the landfill crisis. It accepts more than 200 items free of charge and sells them for a minimal fee to individuals, charities, non-profit organizations and even some businesses.
“We’re not here to make a profit. We’re here to re-educate the public about the four Rs. And that’s reduce, reuse, recycle and recover,” says RenĂ©e Rudy, facility manager.
Rifling through row upon row of bins and tubs, there’s the expected finds — crayons, office supplies, tiles, egg cartons, magazines, CDs, buttons, tins and gift bags.
Then there’s also the slightly off-the-wall objects that invite curiosity, discards such as wine corks, neckties, trophies, laundry soap scoops, milk jug lids, medals, computer cables, onion bags, lamp shades and plastic six-pack holders.
“If you have imagination and creativity, there are no limits,” Rudy says. The St. Albert resident knows a man that buys trophies and puts them together in different configurations. Others have made mobiles from CDs, corkboards from corks and door draft stoppers from neckties. One woman even sent in a photo of a chandelier built from laundry soap scoops.
Although many creative types are attracted to the centre, the idea of reusing materials started about two decades ago when residents of North Glenora hit on the idea of a garbage fair. “They went around to schools, day cares and non-profits and put together a list of items they needed. They collected the items and redistributed them to the groups. More fairs appeared throughout the city and the City of Edmonton supported the concept and developed it into a year-round project that allowed anyone to purchase.”
The humble abode chosen as the Reuse Centre used to be a print shop, fire station, storage for the Edmonton Police Service and finally a homeless shelter before opening in July 2007 as an environmental partner.
In 2008, four full-time staff and about 100 volunteers accepted 112 tons of material and resold 86 tons. Interestingly enough, Rudy estimates only five to 10 per cent of items received end up in the landfill.
“We liken it to an Eco Station. The only thing is we don’t accept from businesses. We do not have the capacity. If we accepted from businesses, we’d have half-ton trucks delivering every day.”
As with all donations, some are hot commodities. “People fight over yarn. They use it to knit for charities. Egg cartons go quickly too. The food bank and farmers pick them up. Even the Edmonton Art Gallery picks them up as paint trays. And fabric is another one.”
Perhaps one of the slower selling items is binders. “We sell them in September, but people don’t seem to like using used binders. Why pay $5 for a binder when you can buy 20 for $4? The kids just write on them anyway.”
Although the Reuse Centre was originally developed to service Edmonton’s needs, donations stream in from outlying communities as far away as Fort McMurray and some in B.C.
And individuals from many communities drop by to see what is in stock. “One teacher drives five hours from Grande Prairie. She’ll pack her car up and away she goes.”
The cost is a $50 annual membership for charities and non-profits that permit unlimited purchases. Individuals pay $4 per purchase.
The centre is located at 10004 – 103A Ave. Hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, noon to 6 p.m., Thursday, noon to 8 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The centre is closed until Jan. 4. For more information call 780-442-4380.
A complete list of acceptable items is available online at www.gov.edmonton.ab.ca/for_residents/garbage_/reuse-centre.aspx.
