Spring is taking its time climbing up Depot Hill, and as these notes are written, the cool air still lingers. The island, however, is already shifting into its busy season, with noticeable increases in activity at the Free Store and the recycling depot.
Our standard hours are now in effect: Fridays to Sundays, 9 am–1 pm. The Free Store and We‑Store operate from 10 am–12 noon. The We‑Store, our construction and demolition waste repurposing area, is now fully operational.
We’re continuing to look for more We‑Store volunteers to help monitor incoming materials and make sure they meet our requirements. And if you’re building or renovating on the island, you might even save a bit by bringing your usable construction and demolition waste to the We‑Store—there’s no charge for drop‑off. I have been told that they are particularly looking for gutters and downspouts at the moment.
We still have some funding to cover the disposal costs of invasive plant species, so if you’re bringing in invasives, please check in with the cashier so they can record your quantities and direct you to the correct drop‑off area for free disposal.
A reminder: please do not place any invasive plants in our compost pile.
We also want to remind everyone that the Earth Machine compost bin is still available for purchase. The price is $125, taxes included.
Our Free Store volunteers kindly ask that only items in excellent working order be brought in. They also request that no donations be left outside after the Free Store has closed. Donations are most helpful when they arrive by 11:30 am.
Please remember that our Free Store team is made up of volunteers, not paid staff. If you have a large volume of donations, please speak with them first to find a good time to bring everything in.
Hornby Island Resident & Ratepayers Association and the Canadian Union of Public Employees, representing of most of the depot employees, will begin negotiating their new collective agreement this May, with the goal to reach an agreement in time for the HIRRA membership to vote on, and in time for the budget season this fall.
A note that when you’re planning to drop off large loads—such as a full pickup truck— of construction waste, large loads of scrap metal, or drywall, please call ahead to confirm we have space before you load your vehicle.
When planning to bring up 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
When dropping off gas‑powered equipment, trailers, or boats, it’s essential that all fluids are completely removed and the units are fully dry.
We’re still seeing some patrons arrive without knowing that all corrugated cardboard must be dry and cut down to pieces smaller than 76 cm × 76 cm (30 in × 30 in) so staff can process it efficiently. Please also avoid stomping or crushing boxes. Any trampled cardboard has to be un‑stomped by staff before it can go through the system.
Your help with this is genuinely appreciated.
As always, we extend our thanks to all our volunteers—in the Free Store, the We‑Store, the gardens, the Recycling Committee, and the HIRRA executive—for the many years of time and energy they’ve contributed.
We also want to acknowledge our hardworking depot staff and the HIRRA staff for their ongoing efforts in keeping operations running smoothly.
See you all up on Depot Hill.
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