Reusing

by Stephen Dukoff

There has been a lot of discussion around recycling lately. However, it’s important to remember that reusing is equally important. When we buy a product, we are all “end users”, and I believe there is an obligation for all of us to dispose of unneeded items in a responsible way. This does not include mindlessly dropping them off at the landfill site to be buried in sand with other “garbage” and left for future generations to deal with. It also does not mean just piling them all beside a conveniently located donation box, leaving the stuff to sit there through rain storms to turn from useful material into junk that the charity now has to spend money to dispose of. Instead, it involves a little more work. We’re really fortunate in this area to have a number of places that are quite happy to accept useable materials for resale for charitable causes. The biggest ones are, of course, Goodwill, March of Dimes, Salvation Army, Value Village and St. Vincent de Paul. However, there are a number of other lesser-known services:

• Neighbourhood Sharing at Days Road and Front Road accepts clothing, books, toys and housewares. The money from the items they sell is used to help needy individuals and families.

• The Habitat for Humanity ReStore on Bath Road (close to the Salvation Army Thrift Store) accepts new and used building material (lumber, windows and doors, electrical and plumbing materials), tools, fasteners (nails, screws, bolts, etc.), and paints and varnishes. They resell these materials at low cost, and use the money to build homes for disadvantaged folks in the Kingston area.

• Enviroworks at 66 Harvey Street is a student-run used building materials and office furniture and furniture store. This is a non-profit organization, operated by the Limestone District School Board, which provides high school students with experience in running a retail operation.
• The Free Clothing Drop-In and Textile Recycling Centre is a volunteer organization located at 145 Kirkpatrick St in the basement of QECVI. They accept clothing, accessories, housewares, and some furniture items.
• The Treasure Trunk ( 1092 Garrett Street ) in Sharbot Lake is a used clothing store operated by the Highway #7 Community Development Corporation.

• Yellow Bike Action at 23 Carlisle St in Kingston (545-0404; toll free 1-877-613-8122) is a volunteer organization which accepts used bicycles and bicycle parts, which they repair and rent out for a nominal fee. They also currently have free bicycles for children.

• Response I.T. Recycled Computer Program accepts donations of used computer systems which they refurbish and provide to needy individuals and organizations. They’re located at 933 Princess St, Suite 110 , and ask that you phone first (549-5568) to learn the minimum requirements for systems that they will accept.

• The Frontenac Electronic Waste Recovery Centre ( 1020 Wagner Road in Sharbot Lake ) accepts donations of computer systems and peripherals (including keyboards, monitors, mouses, modems, network hardware, speakers, circuit boards and printers). Computer systems are rebuilt by students from Sharbot Lake High School and donated to area schools through the Computers for Schools program (www.computersforschoolsontario.com) or to communities in other countries. They also accept cell phones for the Phones for Food (www.think-food.com) program. I understand that they are attempting to establish a means for recycling other electronic waste. They can be contacted at fewr@landolakes.ca

• The Ontario Public Interest Research Group Kingston has a Cell Phone Recycling Program as part of PITCH-IN CANADA's National Cell Phone Recycling Program. Phones can be dropped off at The Grey House - First Floor, 51 Bader Lane at Queen’s University.
• Kingston Freecycle involves a webpage designed to allow individuals who want to "recycle" that special something rather than throw it away. Only items available for free may be posted. More information is available at www.freecycle.org.

• The Household Hazardous Waste Disposal program at Lappan’s Lane in Kingston offers many useable products on their regular collection days, for only the cost of signing a liability waiver. This is a great place to pick up paint, varnish, ski wax, oil, and many other useable products that other people have thoughtfully dropped off.

• Pollitt’s Demolition at 1270 McAdoo’s Lane in Kingston is a good source for used lumber and other used building materials. This is a for-profit company, but buying materials there helps the environment and your pocket book.

For more information on many of these programs, see the details available at Volunteers and Information Kingston (http://kingston.cioc.ca/ ) by using “recycling” as a keyword to search their site.