by Jeff Mills
In response to the closure of the Hub’s Rebound Centre, a small group of engaged citizen advocates has rallied in Mississippi Mills. Participants include three members of Learning Again in Almonte’s “Building on Common Ground.” By examining other local community programs that are successfully “reducing” waste sent to landfill by returning “reusable” items to the community, this group is looking for future solutions in Mississippi Mills. They are actively addressing the closure of the Hub’s Rebound.
“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” The three R mantra has been adopted over the decades as waste generated by humans continues to threaten our environment. This group wants to learn from other communities about their successful programs of waste reduction and reuse. This article features Lanark Highlands McDonalds Corners’ Reuse Centre.
“I was taking my garbage to the town dump one day when I saw five computers in a pile ready to be buried with the waste,” says Lanark Highlands resident, Lynn Parks. “I needed a computer at the time, so I fished out the newest from the pile. Someone should do something, I said to myself.” From this humble beginning came a very successful citizen-led waste diversion program. Lynn contacted her friend Chris Anstead then many other citizens rallied after a simple poster was shared throughout the community.
In the early days of their efforts, areas at some municipal waste facilities were designated for materials that could be reused and free for the taking, then in October 2009, these self-described “ReUsers,” with support from the Municipality of Lanark Highlands, opened the facility at the McDonalds Corners waste site. Local businesses, trades people and volunteer carpenters had come together and constructed a building on site. ReUse had a proper home, with storage, sorting area, shelves and a volunteer program. This marked the formal start of the reuse centre as a place where items could be accepted, sorted, and offered back to the community, free of charge, instead of being thrown away.
In 2010, the municipality passed Bylaw 2010-1061 – “Reuse Centre Operating Procedures” to formalize the relationship between the volunteer “ReUsers” and the municipality. It established rules for how the centre would run, ensuring “fair use” of the centre by residents – meaning it set out how goods are accepted, sorted, and made available, specifically prohibiting profit-making from goods taken from the centre; no one is to resell for personal gain. The operation will be volunteer based, not a commercial venture, but supported by the municipality . Lanark Highlands offered space at their landfill site and some funding for repairs and utilities, while the volunteer “ReUsers” would run the day-to-day operations.
In short order the efforts of the ReUsers showed signs of success as they collected and diverted reusable goods such as books, clothing, furniture, small appliances, electronics, housewares and craft materials, sports and garden equipment, reusable windows and door, etcetera from landfill. In 2009, an estimated 16 tons of reusable materials were diverted from landfill, 2010 the number more than doubled to 37 tons, 2011 it grew to approximately 75 tons and recent counts have this figure at over 100 tons per year.
“Our partnership with Lanark Highlands and being here at their waste site is key,” shares Lynn. “We don’t have garbage pick-up in the Highlands so everyone has to come here with their waste anyways. We make it easy for them to dispose of their reusable items. Most people even take other things they can use home with them when they leave.” “It’s an amazing place of social connection. Some days there are cars lined up at the gate before we open. Neighbours meet neighbours.”
“It really works because of the dedicated ReUser volunteers and oh yeah, everything is free!”
If you are concerned about the waste diversion of reusable goods in Mississippi Mills, send a message to After.Rebound@gmail.com to join our email group for updates and watch local media for further articles describing what other communities in our region are doing on this topic.
The McDonalds Corners ReUse Center’s Winter hours are the same as their landfill (September 15 – May 14) Thursday 2 pm – 5 pm, Saturday 9 am – 1 pm and Sunday 12 pm – 5 pm. Please note: the drop off of reusable goods at the McDonalds Corners ReUse Center is limited to Lanark Highland residents.
