The following letter was sent to Gibsons council and copied to Coast Reporter.

Re: Gibsons spring clean-up day

I’d like to thank council for continuing the Gibsons spring clean-up day this year.

This event, also known fondly as Trash ‘n’ Trade day, has become an institution in our town. I know it is an expensive proposition for the Town, but I and folks I’ve talked to, want you to know how valuable it is to our community.

As mandatory recycling covers more and more items, enabling people to return their old appliances, etc. when they purchase new ones, it may seem that Trash ‘n’ Trade will no longer be needed. However, many people buy their furniture, appliances, and other household items used, not through retailers, and have no way to transport their old items for recycling. And for the many residents without vehicles (certainly without trucks or vans), having their used items and extra trash picked up curbside is an invaluable service.

The trade portion of trash ‘n’ trade is equally important. In the days before pick-up, I saw people carrying ‘treasures’ clear across town. Usable items my neighbours put out curbside disappeared within hours at the hands of happy customers. Sending those items to the landfill, or even to the recycle centre, would take them out of circulation instead of enabling them to be reused.

I know there is uncertainty about whether this program will continue next year and beyond. I thank council again for sticking with it thus far, and urge you to continue spring clean up in its present curbside pick-up form in future years rather than switching to the coupon system used in the Regional District.

Katie Janyk

Gibsons