With only a few days of public notice, the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) recycling depot will be shutting down its current location at Gibsons Park Plaza and moving operations to the Gibsons Recycling Depot effective today (Sept. 30).
Located at 1018 Venture Way, the Gibsons Recycling Depot will be the sole provider for recycling drop-off services in the area.
SCRD sustainable service manager Dion Whyte said the move is due to redevelopment of the location.
"The Gibsons Park Plaza property owner's redevelopment plans do not accommodate the depot's current location," he said.
The SCRD had originally arranged for the facility to remain at its current site until final adoption of the solid waste management plan (SWMP), and service changes were estimated to take place in spring of 2012, but those plans recently changed.
"Our preference was to maintain as is until those service changes were implemented," said Whyte. "I haven't seen the details of the redesigned mall, but I understand that location is kind of the gateway to the mall and is required as part of their whole plan."
As for the process of choosing a new facility, Whyte said under SCRD board direction, staff sent out requests for expressions of interest. After submissions were received, the contract was awarded to the Gibsons Recycling Depot.
"From a financial perspective, the contract awarded to the Gibsons Recycling Depot made the most sense," said Whyte.
As for the aspects of the contract, Whyte said it is for a six-month term only and then will see the contract convert to a month-to-month basis.
When asked if facility attendants at Gibsons Park Plaza would face a job loss due to the move, Whtye said they would not, but rather redeployed to other solid waste facilities.
Operations wise, the Gibsons Recycling Depot will collect the same materials as the Gibsons Park Plaza did. Drop-off services will be available from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week.
The agreement reached with Gibsons Recycling does not accommodate donations of refundable materials for Habitat for Humanity, however the Sechelt recycling depot at Tsain-Ko Mall will still accept donations.
While the move will force community members to change their recycling routine, Whyte said he thinks most people will adapt.
"It really is only a block away. The hours have been developed in a way that it shouldn't limit anyone's ability to actually recycle there," he said.
Whyte did concede that some people may be "less than pleased" with the short notice.
"Because we had initiated a process where we allowed for a fair and open opportunity for multiple organizations to put their best foot forward and be able to offer a service, we had to spend a considerable amount of time in-camera with the details of those submissions," he said. "It wasn't until we knew for certain that we had a contract signed that we could make the information public. The last thing we wanted to do was advise the public a change was happening then have to go back and advise them the change was not what we told you, it's something else. That just gets very confusing."
Buddy Boyd, owner of Gibsons Recycling Depot, said he sees the move as a benefit to the community overall.
For more information on Gibsons Recycling Depot services, see www.gibsonsrecycling.ca.
