Edson & District Recycling Depot
April 8, 2013
The Edson and District Recycling Society is proud and excited to announce the opening of the new and improved Take It or Leave It building. The official opening is May 1, 2013.
The building itself is environmentally friendly. Eco paint was used on the walls, much of the shelving was donated or purchased second hand and the roofing tiles are made from recycled tire products. The depot also has plans to add solar modules onto the building within the next year to reduce its carbon footprint.
There will be some changes to the Take It or Leave It Program. The hours are now Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from noon until 4:30 and Thursday from 4 pm to 7pm. It is hoped that the extended hours will make the Take It or Leave It more accessible and reduce the amount of dumping at the Recycling Depot. Dumping any waste on private or public property without consent is considered Illegal. As the hours have been extended, cameras have been put in place and the depot will be more vigilant in taking action against anyone found dumping their items at the main depot or the new Take It or Leave It building. Law enforcement will be brought in to deal with any dumping that does occur.
Another change we are incorporating is that we’d like to encourage our recyclers to divert some of their items they normally recycle and bring them to the Take It or Leave It. Recycling is the third R in Reduce, Reuse and Recycle and we’d like to ensure our focus is on reducing and reusing. The reason recycling is the third R is that it takes more energy to recycle than it does to reduce and reuse. The items that we’d like you to now bring to Take It or Leave it include: toilet paper and paper towel rolls, tissue paper and ribbons, small glass jars, egg cartons, crayons, pencil crayons and plastic bottle caps. The items will be offered to the schools in our area free of charge to encourage making crafts out of recycled items over purchasing new supplies. These items may expand and we’ll post a list at the Take It or Leave It.
As previously, there is a drop off location and a pick up location. However, in the new building, drop offs and pick ups are on opposite sides of the building. The west side of the building is for drop offs and items will only be allowed to be dropped off in this area. Everything that is brought in will be weighed by the staff and then sorted. Electronics will be checked immediately to ensure they work.
Shopping/pick up will be on the east side of the building only and what you take will be weighed and recorded on the way out as well. The reason for the weigh in and weigh out is so that the Edson and District Recycling Society is able to determine how much “waste” is diverted from the landfill thanks to the Take It or Leave It.
The new Take It or Leave It building is not just practical, but it is artistic as well. Local art talent Robyn Wadey has added some wonderful murals on the inside walls to beautify the building. Arts and crafts made from recycled materials will be displayed and will reflect holidays and the seasons, providing patrons with ideas for their own recycled crafts.
We would like to thank: Linford Foods, TM Locks, Robyn Wadey, Alberta Recycling Management Authority, Community Facility Enhancement Program, Shell Fueling Change, Weyerhaeuser, and Edson Concrete.