The Grey Highlands Joint Waste and Diversion Site Committee is going to consider supporting the implementation of a re-use program at the Holland-Markdale Waste and Diversion Site.
The committee will be reviewing this report at its meeting this week from Environmental Compliance Specialist Jenn Eagan.
The report says this follows a motion presented during a council meeting on March 1, which requested staff report back on bringing back the program of offering a re-use container at all three of the municipality’s waste sites in 2023.
The re-use program stores items within containers for a period of time, where residents can visit and see if there is anything they would like to take. If an item is not taken after a while, it is disposed of to make more room for future items.
The report says through research into similar programs, staff propose offering the re-use program throughout the municipality.
If the program is enacted, staff are proposing the materials collected at all of the sites be stored only at the Holland-Markdale site with items collected at Artemesia or Osprey only be available to residents that same day. Additionally, it is recommended to have staff on site to ensure there is no illegal dumping or non-eligible items left. By tracking items, after an item remains after 90 days, they will be offered to alternative diversion programs like Canadian Diabetes and Pennywise before they are disposed of.
Staff also recommend purchasing a new 24-foot sea container for use at the Holland-Markdale site.
The items to be accepted include:
-Small furniture
-Sporting equipment
-Toys
-Books, vinyl records, DVDs, CDs, VHS and cassette tapes
-Houseware, dishes, pots, pans, utensils
-Dresser, desks, bookshelves
-Novelty items or antique items like door knobs or milk cans
-Memorabilia, collectibles
-Bicycles
-Hand and garden tools
-Home decor and seasonal items
The new container comes with a $3,798 price tag, while the cost to implement a re-use centre is between $3,000 and $4,000.
The committee will be reviewing this recommendation on April 3 at 10 a.m.