Hazardous materials, light bulbs now accepted at GIRO
GIRO is now accepting new materials through the Product Care program.
The recycling organization partnered with the not-for-profit association that manages product stewardship programs, and can now accept materials such as paints, aerosols, light bulbs and batteries.
GIRO is a Paint Plus Depot, meaning that in addition to accepting paints, varnishes and urethanes, they can also take flammables, pesticides and gasoline. Earlier in the year, GIRO built a compound with an eight-foot high fence around the compound to store hazardous materials in. Product Care pays GIRO for all the products they collect through the program. Photo: Dean Clark, Recycling Manager at the Gabriola Island Recycling Organization in the compound where paints, varnishes, urethanes and other materials can now be collected. Rachelle Stein-Wotten photo
There are some exceptions to the new program; for example, GIRO cannot accept products without a label or that are leaking or improperly sealed; rusted cans with dried up paint; resins, acids, bleach and other corrosive materials; or diesel, propane and butane fuels.
“The handling of it is going to be more of a learning process for us because I think it’s going to be more in depth than most of the stuff I deal with, like separation and stuff like that,” said Dean Clark, GIRO’s recycling manager.
Visit the GIRO’s new website at www.girodepot.com for a detailed list of what the depot can and cannot accept.
Through Product Care’s LightRecycle program, GIRO can accept all types of light bulbs and tubes (CFLs, fluorescent tubes, halogen, incandescent and LED bulbs), and through AlarmRecycle, can take used or expired smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
“It just pushes us that much further,” said Dean. “I want to be able to assist people in getting rid of the stuff they no longer need.”
GIRO has also undergone some cosmetic upgrades, reorganizing the Reuse Centre and putting up new signs.