New Reuse Centre location has extra room for donations
A recent move to the south side has allowed the city’s Reuse Centre to expand.
Its new location at the corner of Argyll Road and 83rd Street has more than twice the usable space of the now closed downtown location at 10004 103A Ave.
The three main goals of the Reuse Centre are to promote the idea of reuse, to make reusable items affordable, and to divert waste from landfills, said co-ordinator Kristin Arnot.
Donations of various items are accepted and sold to be reused by others. Various items can be combined into lots and purchased by weight. Lots with a weight under 50 kilograms may be purchased for $5. Each additional 50 kg adds $5 to the cost.
Playschool teacher Michelle McBrydie receives $200 each month to buy supplies for her class of 55 students. The Reuse Centre allows her to stretch her dollars, she said.
“This is a great resource for craft supplies,” she said. “Buying these same items at Michaels would cost 30 or 40 bucks.”
The centre accepts arts and crafts supplies, office and school supplies, and other things that aren’t taken elsewhere in the city, Arnot said. The centre is now also accepting donations from businesses.
The centre accepts donations equivalent in weight to an Edmonton Transit bus each month, Arnot said.
About three-quarters are sold. The rest goes to charities or is recycled, if possible. Approximately 96 per cent of all donations are diverted from landfills.
The centre is holding workshops that demonstrate different ways to turn household items into crafts.
The new location has free parking and is accessible by public transit.
A full list of accepted items can be found on the City of Edmonton website.