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Recycling/Disposal Alternatives

Reuse Rendezvous

Over one weekend each spring, the City promotes an event known as "Reuse Rendezvous". This annual event promotes reuse through a weekend long curbside swap meet (your Reuse Rendezvous Days are shown on your Add-A-Day Garbage Collection and Recycling Schedule) for residents to put out items that may be useful to others and that they no longer want or can use.

Recycling and Reuse Tips and Resources

Here are some recycling and reuse tips, and resources to help you solve many disposal problems.

  • Recycling Directory
    To find out where to take different items locally, use the online interactive recycling directory at the RDN Recycling Directory.
  • Yard and Garden Waste
    The City does not have a program directed at the collection of yard and garden waste (grass clippings, branches, pruning materials, garden refuse and other organic yard waste). However, there are at least two private sector yard waste collection services that provide on-demand and/or weekly residential yard waste collection. Businesses providing yard waste collection include Emterra and EnviroCore Recycling. Emterra can be contacted regarding fees and services at 250-716-3340. EnviroCore Recycling may be contacted regarding fees and services at 250-758-2545. A variety of services are available including curbside service, scheduled services (weekly, bi-weekly), and one-time pick up.

    Residents may, through retail outlets, purchase home composting units or haul this type of material (self-haul) directly to International Composting Corporation (ICC) at 981 Maughan Road in the Duke Point area, the RDN landfill on Cedar Road, or to The Nanaimo Recycling Exchange site located at 2477 Kenworth Road. Residential loads will be accepted at all sites for a nominal fee. For more information contact ICC at 250-722-4614, the RDN at 250-722-2044 or The Nanaimo Recycling Exchange at 250-758-7777. Materials collected are composted at the ICC composting facility.

The following is a sampling of composting web sites. Check them out.

  • Drywall or Gypsum
    The Nanaimo Recycling Exchange provides for Residential drop-off at their site located at 2477 Kenworth Road at 250-758-7777. Fees apply. Commercial haulers and contractors are required to take their loads to Alpine Disposal at 2250 McGarrigle Road at 250-740-7850. Fees apply
  • Make a Deal
    When buying a new hot water tank, refrigerator, freezer, mattress or other appliance, arrange to have your old unit picked up and disposed of when the new model is delivered.
  • B.C. Recycling Hotline (RCBC)
    For information about recycling and reuse opportunities including household hazardous wastes disposal, call the Hotline toll-free at 1-800-667-4321 or visit their Web Site.
  • Emterra Environmental
    Emterra provides a seasonal weekly yard waste collection service for residential clients. Contact them for information and prices. They also have a recycling drop-off for paper products (newspaper, cardboard, mixed paper), metal and plastic household containers. Location 255 Eaton Street, Nanaimo. Call 250-716-3340.
  • Budget Steel
    Budget Steel accepts most items made of metal or that contain metal free of charge at 2079 Main Road in South Wellington. Call 250-716-0047 for more information.
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters
    accepts gently used clothing, bedding, towels, stuffed animals and many other soft items. Located at #3 - 2350 Labieux Rd. below the Coastal Community Credit Union office on the corner of Bowen Rd and Labieux Rd. Call -250-756-2447 for more information.
  • RDN Landfill
    $5.00 for first 50kg of garbage or construction/demolition waste; and a $5.00 fee for the first 100kg of yard & garden waste. For more information call 250-722-2044. Located at 1105 Cedar Road, Nanaimo.
  • Good Neighbours
    accepts donations of household items, furniture and appliances in usable condition. They also offer a free pick-up service. Call 250-755-1433.
  • Salvation Army
    The Salvation Army accepts furniture, shoes, clothing ( all ages), appliances, books, house wares, toys and sporting goods in working and reusable condition. No bed mattresses please. For a free pick-up service or more info please call 250-754-9342 or drop off at their Thrift Store locations between the hours of 9 AM and 4:30 PM.
  • Second Hand Sandy's
    Second Hand Sandy's accepts donations of household items and furniture and appliances in usable condition. They also offer a free pick-up service. Call 250-753-7797.
  • Friends of Haven Thrift Shop
    Friends of Haven Thrift Shop accepts small furniture, house wares in working condition, and clothing. No bed mattresses please. Drop off at their thrift store location at 451 Albert Street. For more info call 250-754-3687.
  • Nanaimo Recycling Exchange (NRE)
    The NRE provides a wide range of reuse and recycling opportunities and helpful information. They provide recycling drop-off services for a variety of common household recyclables, scrap metal, yard and garden waste and hazardous goods including gyprock / drywall, styrofoam, paint and pesticides including their empty containers. They also accept for recycling or reuse household goods, including; clothing, dishes, small appliances such as toasters, small TVs, computers and radios, cellular phones and inkjet cartridges.

    The NRE operates a Surpluses Exchange for larger items and provides on-site collection of many household hazardous wastes for disposal (computers, fluorescent light tubes, empty propane tanks, household batteries, solvents, fuel, gyprock / drywall, pesticides, styrofoam, paint products and their empty containers). Community groups may access supplies of still usable old paint free of charge. For more information call 250-758-7777. Visit their site at 2477 Kenworth Road with their main access off Cienar Drive or visit their Web Site http://www.recycling.bc.ca/
  • Rainbow Appliances
    Rainbow Appliances will pick up used appliances (stove, refrigerators, etc.) if they are reasonably recent models and still operating. Located at 1946 Northfield Road. For more info call 250-756-2205.
  • BFI Canada Recycling Plant
    BFI operates a recyclable materials preparation facility at 333 Tenth Street where a variety of household and commercial based recyclable materials are processed and shipped to recycling markets and manufacturers. Their facility is not for public drop-off but for commercial haulers and business clients. Phone 250-751-1499 for more information.
  • Nanaimo Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Store
    The Nanaimo Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Store is operated by volunteers with all profit going to the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. They accept a variety of household recyclable items including gently used clothing, household items, and books in reusable condition. Located at #403 - 5800 Turner Road in the Northridge Shopping Centre.
  • Doggy Doo Wagon Pet Waste Removal Service
    Doggy Doo Wagon Pet Waste Removal Service offers a variety of pet waste clean up and removal services including single to scheduled yard clean-up, litter box service, or curbside collection of bins of pet waste. For information on services and price call 250-616-8615 or visit their web site at http://www.members.shaw.ca/doggydoowagon.
  • 4 Paws Waste Removal
    4 Paws Waste Removal offers a variety of pet waste clean up and removal services including yard, pens/runs and kennel clean-up, or bucket exchange. For information on services and price call Jeff (250) 758-7385 or (250) 802-2853 or visit their web site at www.4paws.publishpath.com.
  • When Doody Calls Pet Waste Services
    When Doody Calls Pet Waste Services offers a variety of pet waste clean up and removal including single to scheduled yard clean-up, litter box service, or curbside collection of bins of pet waste. For information on services and price call (250) 714-7466 or visit their web site at www.4whendoodycalls.com

  • Pick Up Your Paws Dog Services
    Pick Up Your Paws Dog Services offers a variety of pet waste clean up and removal services for cat and dog waste, including weekly / bi-weekly curb-side pick-up, weekly yard clean up and commercial pickup. Free biodegradable bags will be supplied. For information on services and prices call 250-734-2034 or e-mail MeaganMclellan1@hotmail.com
  • 1-800-GOT-JUNK?
    1-800-GOT-JUNK? is a great alternative for people that cannot get their junk outside, or need junk removal.  They will remove the junk wherever it is located and do their best to recycle.  Call 1-800-GOT-JUNK?  for more information or visit www.1800gotjunk.com

 

  • The Hospice Shoppe
    Offers quality merchandise at affordable prices.  Accepts donations of household goods, clothing and accessories, books, furniture and collectibles.  All proceeds support Nanaimo Hospice programs and services in our community.  Located at #5-4286 Departure Bay Road (off Norwell Drive) (250) 75808886 . Hours are: Monday to Saturday 9:30 am - 5:00 pm (closed Holidays).  For more information visit www.nanaimohospiceshoppe.com

For information contact: 250-758-5222 or email public.worksinfo@nanaimo.ca

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