How many times have you heard that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure? It’s a familiar saying, and for good reason: it’s true! Bring your unwanted and unused “stuff” to your local Community Environment Day, hosted by your City Councillor, and transform your trash into treasure.

They’ll take all your used household items and make sure they get recycled or reused by folks who want and need them. Best of all, you’ll be keeping your junk out of the landfill, so everyone wins.

• Small household items like dishes and ornaments will go to Goodwill, along with books, linens and clothing. They’ll even take your broken VCRs, cell phones, computers and other electronics and make sure they are properly recycled and/or disposed.
• You can drop off art supplies such as pencils, markers, crayons, yarn and fabric, as well as used buttons, costume jewellery and dress-up clothing. They will be donated to ArtsJunktion—a Toronto District School Board warehouse for teachers—and reused by creative young minds.
• Don’t forget to bring your leftover cleaning supplies and solvents, motor oil, paint, old and unused medication, mercury thermometers/ thermostats and pesticides. These items are household hazardous wastes and need safe disposal.

Other highlights include:

• Recycling containers available for purchase, for exchange with broken ones, or for free to new residents (with proper proof of new residency and identification)!
• Water efficiency tools for sale such as rain barrels and indoor kits.
• Paint exchange—bring some in or take at look at what’s been dropped off and help yourself.
• Giant pile of FREE leaf compost. Come prepared with your own containers and shovels. Haul it away and spruce up your lawn, garden and flower beds.