Donation bins to help fund a women’s residential treatment centre in Barrie are quickly starting to fill up around the city.
Net proceeds from Cornerstone to Recovery’s recycling program are used to support the organization’s recovery programs.
The program, which has been running successfully in York Region for many years, is also expected to help divert millions of pounds of textiles from local land-fills through its partnership with Talize Inc.
Currently, the bins are located at five different spots around Barrie.
Cornerstone is an addiction recovery support agency and recovery community serving York Region and the Greater Toronto Area. Its mission is to support those impacted by addiction to achieve emotional, physical and spiritual wellness.
Coun. Natalie Harris, who has championed the facility coming to the city, told BarrieToday seeing the bins around town is gratifying.
“It’s emotional for sure, in a good way," said Harris. "Watching people donate as we are standing beside the bin makes me tear up because it’s come to fruition. I know how well they work in York Region and I just can’t wait to see the treatment centre up and running.
"Knowing that we are diverting stuff from our landfill, which is great for the environment, saving taxpayer’s money and ultimately raising money for the women’s treatment centre is (great)," she added.
The bins, she noted, are “pretty high tech” and include a sensor which will indicate when it is full and ready to be emptied out.
Cornerstone staff or volunteers also regularly check the sites to ensure they are kept tidy and clean. They use a small chute bin requiring three feet of frontage clearance to open the door. It uses routing and work-order software to optimize collection schedules.
The sensors in the bins trigger a ‘ready for collection’ message and this appears to help with the quantity of spillover donations left around collection bins which have been a concern in many communities.
Harris said the organization is looking for donations of textiles.
“Any kind of clothing, bedding, linens of any condition… they will even take linens that are ripped or torn to use for scraps. We are not looking for large furniture items, etc,” she explained. “Basically things you can put in a garbage bag that was in your closet at home can go in there.”
Donation bins can be found at the following locations:
- 167 Bradford St.;
- Painswick Library;
- Ferndale Operations Centre;
- Sadlon Arena; and
- Allandale Recreation Centre.
For more information about Cornerstone to Recovery, visit their website.
