Recycling for Habitat for Humanity Sunshine Coast
Seeking Part-Time Sechelt & Gibsons Recycling Volunteers
On behalf of the board and staff of Habitat for Humanity Sunshine Coast, we would like to extend our deepest condolences to Richard’s family and all that knew him. We are so very grateful for his selfless work and time dedicated to helping others in our community.
Rich drove the Habitat truck for the recycling operation for many years, volunteering several times a week to sort and count the large loads of donated bottles and cans which provided funding for the construction of Habitat homes. Not only would he handle the loading and unloading of tonnes of recyclables for Habitat, Rich would go overtime to lend a hand with anything the team needed to operate, including planning wonderful potluck dinners with his wife Lee at their lovely waterfront home. Rich was a warm generous host, and loved to see his friends and teammates enjoying social time together. Always friendly, helpful and kind, Rich's contributions to Habitat will live on by way of the happy families living in Habitat homes he helped provide, and in the sweet memories he leaves all his Habitat friends with.
The Gibsons Bottle Depot is open across the road from Gibsons Recycling [Tues-Sat 11AM - 3PM]. Refundable bottles and cans may be left in the crates on the driveway at the Habitat deposit bin. Chris and Murray will see that they are processed, with our thanks.
In Sechelt, at Caps Off [Tues-Sat 11AM - 3PM] you have an option to stand in line and donate the full amount to Habitat at the till, or if you are in a hurry, you may leave your refundables in the megabag outside Caps Off and they will donate a portion to Habitat.
Thanks a million for helping us to continue recycling for Habitat!
Our History
From humble beginnings 15 years ago Habitat’s Recycling program has grown into an award winning expert team who take great pride in funding affordable housing by recycling for deposit 20 different products weekly, while adding community value by keeping tonnes of bottles and cans out of the landfill. A little known fact is that Habitat built its first affordable home out of pop cans! How, you ask? By winning the national Alcan award for the most aluminum cans recycled in Canada, Small Towns division, for 2 years running! This Alcan award of $125,000, in addition to the refund deposits collected during the contest period, more than covered the cost of materials for the first Habitat house built on the Sunshine Coast! Several years later Habitat Recycling was presented with the Excellence Award for our system of community recycling of refundable containers, and in 2016, our Recycling team won the only Habitat award ever given for Canadian recycling, the Habitat Sustainable Funding Award.
How the Program Works
Every day of the week, 52 weeks a year, except statutory holidays, our team is on the job, rain or shine, pre-sorting the refundables donated by the public at SALISH SOILS, OFF PORPOISE BAY ROAD IN SECHELT, and at GIBSONS BOTTLE DEPOT, VENTURE WAY IN GIBSONS. We are very grateful to our community for their tremendous support, and for the forward vision of the SCRD to partner with Habitat, whereby the recycling program provides dependable funding for Habitat’s Build program, as we return the beverage containers to the Return It centers on a weekly basis. We couldn’t do this without the support of you Sunshine Coasters!
How You Can Help
If you have an hour a week, and want to truly make a difference, we’d love to show you what we do! During our busy season, our volunteers have holidays too, so we need a few Summer Only volunteers who have an extra hour a week to temporarily help us out when we are shorthanded. And in addition to donating your own beverage containers, could you bring your neighbour’s, your neighbourhood association’s or your strata council’s refundables with you when you visit Salish Soils or Gibsons Bottle Depot? Your continued support allows us to continue to give back! Thank you!
- Drive the recycling truck
- Sort cans and bottles
- Pack cans and bottles and load the truck
- Take bottles and cans to Caps Off at 9:30am Friday mornings
Where Do I Drop Off My Refundables?
Our Sechelt Bottle/Can drop off area is at Salish Soils. Head over to 5646 Schetxwen Rd, Sechelt, BC V0N 3A3 (at Salish Soils) and make your contribution anytime!
What About In Gibsons?
We have another location in Gibsons too! If you have bottles and cans, take them over to 1035 Venture Way.
Is This Recycleable?
Sechelt.ca has a tool called “Waste Wizard” that will let you know how to dispose of all your garbage/recycling items! Click the Waste Wizard button to use the tool.