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Too many things from the Free Store going into landfill

Upset by the amount of Free Store recyclables that end up in the landfill at the Bings Creek?
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Too many things from the Free Store going into landfill

Is anyone else upset by the amount of Free Store recyclables that end up in the landfill at the Bings Creek facility?

I’m not talking about the garbage that some people leave in there, I’m referring to those items that are tossed out daily because of lack of space, the mess left by those sorting through boxes, and perhaps the urge by staff to tidy up.

First of all, is the purpose of the Free Store not to divert as much waste as possible from the landfill?

Secondly, people pay to drop off items in the Free Store, with the intention of extending their life, otherwise, they could/would just throw directly into the garbage bins.

Has anyone ever been to see the Free Store on Hornby Island? Set up like a real store, with departments for shoes, books, clothing hung on hangers or folded nicely in bins, kitchenware, appliances, even building materials. Paid staff care for the store and are trained to discern the value of items for what stays, what goes.

I applaud CVRD for taking the first step in setting up this valuable Free Store space. It is a step in the right direction. There are people who depend on stretching their dollars as far as they can — the Free Store is one more way of doing that. But we need to look seriously into expanding the space and setting up a store that is scaled for the municipality, helping those who financially need it, and providing more responsible recycling/reusing of items. This would also create a few more local jobs. Adding a space for recycling building materials would be a great asset too — an enormous amount of reusable construction materials go right into the garbage bins and straight to the landfill — it’s heartbreaking.

I understand that it costs taxpayers to fund these types of projects. As a homeowner, I see this as a valuable use of my tax dollars.

Why is this not already a thing in every community, I don’t understand. We just cannot afford to continue with business as usual. Clearly, I’m passionate about working hard to divert reusables from the landfill. Is anyone else on board?

Patricia MacGregor

North Cowichan