The winter has been mild this year, and, at least at the time of writing, we’ve been fortunate not to have any snow closures. As we’ve mentioned in previous articles, the high cost of liability insurance for snow removal means that HIRRA, the Recycling Committee, and management have decided to close the recycling depot whenever snow or ice creates unsafe conditions.
During these times, depot staff will continue to clear snow to help promote faster melting and to complete essential on‑site tasks. The depot will remain closed to the public until all snow and ice have thawed and conditions are considered safe for access. We thank you for your understanding.
As usual, our winter hours are Fridays through Sundays, 9 am to 1 pm, and the Free Store and We Store are open from 10 am to 12 noon. Note that the We‑Store, our construction and demolition waste repurposing area, is now open. Depending on volunteer availability, the We‑Store will be open from Fridays through Sundays, 10 am until noon. We are still looking for additional We‑Store volunteers to help monitor incoming items and ensure they meet the We‑Store’s requirements.
Our Free Store volunteers request that only items in excellent working order be brought to the Free Store. They also ask that no items be dropped off outside after the Free Store has closed, and they greatly appreciate it when donations arrive by 11:30 am.
A reminder that in January, the CVRD landfill increased its tipping fees, and we have followed suit. Prices have gone up by $1 per bag for all bag sizes, and our hope is to keep these prices frozen until 2029.
As of October, we have had to send construction waste separately from other waste, which leaves us with only one construction and demolition bin. Because of this, it is important that you call ahead if you plan to drop off a large amount of construction waste so we can confirm that we are able to accommodate you. The same applies to drywall, scrap metal, trailers, 5th wheels, and boats.
For drywall, please make sure you have completed the required paperwork, available at:https://recycling.hirra.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Dry-Wall-Waste-Disposal-Application-March-2017.pdf
For trailers and boats, it is essential that there are no fluids present whatsoever.
We still have many patrons coming to the recycling centre not knowing that all corrugated cardboard has to be dry and be cut down to pieces smaller than 76cm by 76cm (30 inches by 30 inches), so staff can easily process the material, and that cardboard boxes are not trampled and stomped on. Stomped-on and trampled cardboard boxes will need to be un-stomped and un-trampled by staff before they can be processed. The staff really appreciates your help.
As always, we want to thank all our volunteers in the Free Store, the We-Store, in the gardens, at the recycling committee, and the HIRRA executive, for all the time that they have been donating over the years.
Finally, we want to thank our hardworking staff and the HIRRA staff for their contributions to making our depot run smoothly.
……See you all up on Depot Hill.
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