All gently used CLOTHING & HOUSEHOLD TEXTILES are accepted in the program.
Note: Moldy, paint-stained or oil-covered clothes, as well as old items you have already used as rags cannot be re-used or recycled and should be placed in your garbage bin for disposal.
Wondering what happens to the textiles we collect?
“Although we strive to recycle 100% of the textiles we receive, unfortunately the relevant technology isn’t at a point where high quality fabrics can be made from re-spinning heavily used textiles.
Currently, whatever can’t be recycled or re-spun into textiles, wipers, insulation, carpets or other usable products, we have to pay to throw away. But, we never dump abroad. That’s completely unethical and unsustainable.
We understand the frustration with the ineffective current recycling systems are, but we encourage transparency, communication, and understanding at all levels to help build a path forward to a circular textile economy and reduce the textiles and fashion industry’s carbon footprint and water usage on Earth.”
Don’t miss the awesome activities at the Celebrate Earth Day festival coming up on Saturday, April 21! Our “DIY: Make it, Grow it, Fix it, Share it” theme includes TINKERbell Station & our 2nd Repair Cafe in the Greg Moore Youth Centre (south-east corner of Memorial Peace Park), the Familly Freecycle and Cycle Recycle Free Bike Draw, a Special Haney Farmers’ Market, a Food Truck Festival, interactive booths & activities, entertainment stages & roving performers & flash mobs and lots more!! It’s only on from 10am – 2pm, so come early, come hungry, and bring your broken stuff for repair!
Ridge Meadows Recycling Society has received funding from Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program to organize Maple Ridge’s first Repair Cafés. Repair Cafes are pop-up events where residents can bring their broken items (small appliances, jewelry, clothing, small toys or furniture, etc.) and there are tools, materials, and volunteer “fixers” available to help residents learn to repair their stuff!
Our first Repair Cafe is happening on Saturday, March 24, from 10am – 2pm at the Maple Ridge Seniors’ Activity Centre – hope to see you (& your broken stuff) there!!
Our January newsletter includes a call for Volunteers for our upcoming Repair Cafes, information on Celebrate Earth Day (“DIY: Make it, Grow it, Fix it, Share it”) and the Earth Day Poetry & Photo Contests, environmental articles from 2017, and lots of great upcoming community events!
Looking ahead to the winter season, we wanted to give you the following info on curbside blue box recycling pickup in case of heavy snowfall…
Check our Facebook page and website to see if your recycling pickup has been cancelled because of the snow.
The safety of our staff and the public is our first priority.
We will endeavour to complete pickup routes during snow events, but it may be necessary to cancel recycling pickup in certain areas or on certain days due to safety concerns.
Each snow event will be assessed separately and we will do our best to communicate any cancellations or updates to you through our website, phone system, and social media sites.
Some areas are not safe for our trucks to travel during snowfalls. If you live in a hilly area or on a street that’s difficult to access, please do not put your recycling out in heavy snow. We will pick up your recycling the following week, weather permitting. You can also bring it to the Maple Ridge Recycling Depot during open hours.
Thank you very much for your understanding & patience!
Our September newsletter includes upcoming community events and focuses on our brand new “NOT ACCEPTED at the Recycling Depot” awareness campaign!
While we try to accept as many items as possible at the Maple Ridge Recycling Depot, there are some items we DO NOT take, mainly because there is no recycling program or market that will take them. Keeping these items away from the Depot helps save us time & tipping fees!
Although we try to accept as many items at the Maple Ridge Recycling Depot as possible, there are certain items that people bring that we DO NOT accept, usually because there is no stewardship program or market for these items.
Our August newsletter includes green BACK TO SCHOOL tips, a look ahead at upcoming events, and a look back on a great summer – including a video of our summer students’ experience doing the Plastic Free July Challenge!