Pilot Project: Increasing efficiency and community impact with the St. Catharines ReStore!
In 2024, a recycling pilot project commenced with the City of St. Catharines and the St. Catharines ReStore. The city’s facilities department found that fluorescent bulbs at the end of their life were piling up quickly and their current disposal process was less than ideal as it involved taking up needed storage areas and was costing more than desired to have a hazardous waste company arrive to take it away.
Dennis Vasko, a technician within the Environmental Services Department at the City of St. Catharines, decided to find another way. He was surprised to see through an online search that the Habitat for Humanity Niagara ReStores offered recycling solutions and could take many items for responsible disposal.
Dennis reached out to St. Catharines store manager, Cheryl Young Atkinson, and found an enthusiastic new partner to help recycle the bulbs that were piling up.
You might wonder why the city handles so many bulbs. Well, just take a moment and think about how many arenas, municipal buildings, courthouses, recreation centres (and more) the City is responsible for, and it adds up very quickly!
Through the St. Catharines ReStore’s recycling relationship with GFL Environmental, bulbs are recycled responsibly with all of the useable parts of the bulbs diverted from the landfill and repurposed to be used again. This includes metal, glass, and plastic components. The mercury from the bulb is treated and then securely landfilled to prevent harm to the environment. Disposing of bulbs containing mercury without taking this step can harm marine life, our water supplies, and our health.
This recycling process, in addition to keeping reusable materials from the landfill, also helps to support Habitat for Humanity Niagara’s homebuilding program as our ReStores receive compensation for lighting that is recycled through this eco-friendly program. It truly is a win-win for businesses, organizations and municipalities looking to streamline their recycling processes while also helping to support families in their community.
Thank you to the City of St. Catharines for commencing this successful pilot program and partnering with us to continue helping not only take care of our environment but also aiding us in continuing to build homes in our community for local families in need of a safe and affordable place to call home!
Find out what can be recycled with our ReStores in Niagara (Fonthill, Grimsby, and St. Catharines). Help your community and environment by bringing your end-of-life items to our ReStores, one of Niagara’s largest recycling centres!