Day Thirty One: Spring Clean Up!

It's Spring Clean-Up week in Delta. I have a love-hate relationship with clean-up week. I admit that I drive around with one eye looking out for a sidewalk deal, but I'm also amazed by all the junk that ends up curbside. And I mean junk.

There are lots of broken plastic items and electronics (I saw the garbage guys trying to fit an old school 50" TV into their truck). When looking at the heaps of junk, it is a good reminder to me to consider the quality of items that I purchase so they don't end up, broken, on the curb in a couple of years. Spilling on the sidewalks, there are many items that shouldn't be out on the curb- mattresses, building materials, electronics. It makes going for a walk with my little sidewalk scroungers very slow, as they need to stop at every little pile to inspect the "goods".

The part I love about Clean Up week is the element of recycling. Still-good items can find a new home, instead of ending up in the landfill or cluttering up a basement or garage. It's been suggested that communities schedule Curbside Recycling Days more frequently. These days would allow folks to put out still use able furniture, appliances, building materials etc. (although owners would be responsible for hauling them back again). What an easy way to recycle household goods!

With so many people doing renovations there is a lot more waste being produced. The ugly vanity, the hideous light fixture are all deemed trash able. But wait a minute, one person's trash is another's treasure (as seen by the pick-ups loaded to the brim cruising the streets during Clean-Up week). Many of these items can be re-purposed through Habitat For Humanity's ReStore. www.habitat.ca We've used the ReStore for many of our projects around the cabin with great results.

Habitat for Humanity's mission, since 1976, has been to provide safe and affordable housing while partnering with people and businesses in the community. They've been in Canada since 1985 and completed 1,800 homes. Worldwide they've built over 400,000 homes for more than 2 million people! Keep up the great work, habitat! And keep your eyes open for that curbside treasure, or just vist the ReStore!