In this newsletter...
-Announcing the Maple Ridge Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Day on Saturday, September 19 - MUST be a Maple Ridge resident and register online at www.rmrecycling.org
-Camping or road-tripping this summer? Check out our new videos highlighting motor oil & propane tank recycling
-Want to conserve water EVERY DAY? If you haven't already, switch to a low-flow toilet and you may be eligible for a $50 tax credit from the City of Maple Ridge!
-This month, the volunteer spotlight falls on Maple
Ridge Repair Cafe family volunteers Kalib & Dave!
On Saturday, September 19, 2020, the City of Maple Ridge, working with Ridge Meadows Recycling Society and Terrapure, will host a household hazardous waste drop-off day for residents.
Household hazardous waste (HHW) is defined as leftover household products that contain corrosive, toxic, flammable, or reactive compounds. Municipal sewage systems and private septic systems do not filter or remove these compounds and burying them can lead to groundwater contamination. Residents of Maple Ridge can register online for this one-time, free drop-off event to bring in household quantities of HHW. Terrapure, a specialized waste management company, will be on site to sort, test, and safely dispose of any materials residents bring in.
“Many residents have half-full bottles of old, outdated, or unmarked liquids, cleaners, or chemicals they may have inherited from former tenants or relatives,” says Maple Ridge Mayor Michael Morden, “Some of these may have been hiding in the back of a cupboard or garage for 20 or 40 years. This event is a rare opportunity for Maple Ridge residents to bring in those ‘mystery’ jars and dispose of them safely.”
Items accepted for drop-off at the event include oven & toilet cleaners, bleach, brake fluid, concentrated acids, herbicides, liquid car wax, lye, swimming pool chemicals, mothballs, rust removers, wood preservatives, nail polish remover, furniture polish, darkroom chemicals, rubber or plastic cement, roofing tar, charcoal briquettes, perm/hair dye solutions, adhesives, resins, caulking, and more. The materials should be in a leak-proof container or bag and while ideally they will have a clear, readable identifying label, they will be accepted without one. Prohibited materials at the event include explosives (ammunition, fireworks, road & marine flares), radioactives, biohazardous materials, and sharps (needles).
“There are so many items already accepted for free drop-off at the Maple Ridge Recycling Depot (located at 10092 – 236th Street),” Sandy Sigmund, President of Ridge Meadows Recycling Society, reminds us, “Paint, electronics, light bulbs, batteries, appliances, motor oil, antifreeze, clothing & textiles, scrap metal, & Styrofoam are all accepted at the Recycling Depotevery day of the week. We are expecting the HHW event day to be very busy, so residents should plan ahead and drop off all their OTHER recyclables at Depot before or after the designated HHW day. On September 19, people should ONLY bring household hazardous waste to the event to help keep the line moving quicker.”
Maple Ridge residents MUST pre-register online for either a morning (8am-12noon) or afternoon (12noon – 4pm) time slot before attending the drop-off event. Registration spots will be limited and online forms are now available at Ridge Meadows Recycling Society’s website – www.rmrecycling.org
On September 19, the HHW drop-off event will be held in Ridge Meadows Recycling’s front lot at the corner of River Road and 236th Street. If it gets busy, traffic controllers will direct residents who have registered to drop off their household hazardous waste to wait in a line-up next door in the Kanaka Creek Pole Company parking lot. Upon arrival, residents must go through a COVID-19 screening, show their confirmation email (either printed or on a mobile device) and prove they are a Maple Ridge resident at the event (driver’s licence or ID card).
All occupants of the vehicle should wear masks or face coverings and stay in the vehicle with the windows rolled up. Items to be dropped off will need to be placed in thereartrunk area ONLY, not in the back seat or front seat. Drop-off materials will be removed from the vehicle by staff and containers or boxes holding items will NOT be returned to residents. Again, residents are encouraged to drop off all other recyclables ahead of time and ONLY bring HHW to the drop-off event.
NOTE: Any resident a) showing signs of fever, coughing, difficulty breathing, or pneumonia; b) who has travelled to a country outside of Canada, been on a cruise ship, or visited a health care facility or any location where there has been Positive cases of COVID-19; or c) who has been in contact with a person who recently travelled outside of Canada, has been in contact with a person who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, or has been in contact with a person who has an undiagnosed respiratory illness or is being tested for COVID-19 in the 14 days leading up to the event will NOT be permitted to attend the HHW drop-off event.
Propane Tanks - #BringItToTheDepot!
Got empty camping fuel canisters or a large, empty propane tank? #BringItToTheDepot!
Reminder! No Curbside Recycling Pickup
Monday, September 7 (Labour Day Holiday)
If you have Monday recycling pickup, remember to set your recycling out on Monday, August 31 as the following week there will be NO CURBSIDE PICKUP ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 due to the Labour Day stat holiday. Regular Monday pickup will resume the following week on September 14. If you've got a LOT of recycling, the Maple Ridge Recycling Depot, located at 10092 - 236th Street, is open every weekend - Saturday from 8-5 and Sunday and Holidays from 9-5.
Happy (early) Labour Day from Ridge Meadows Recycling!
Low-Flow Toilet Tax Credit Program
Maple Ridge homeowners are eligible to receive a $50 utility tax credit by replacing their older toilet with a new, low-flow toilet. Make the switch to a more water-efficient toilet and help conserve our most precious resource.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are currently NOT taking any tax credit applications at the Recycling Depot – ALL applications MUST be completed online and receipts emailed to info@rmrecycling.org
Step 1: Are you eligible for the Low-Flow Toilet Tax Credit?
Applicant must pay property taxes to the City of Maple Ridge.
Applicant must be a property owner or owner’s representative – no contractors.
Credit is for residential use only, limit one toilet per property.
Credit is not eligible for new buildings or as part of a renovation requiring a permit.
Toilet being replaced must have a flushing volume of 13 litres or greater.
Step 3: Save your receipt! Scan it or take a photo of it and email to info@rmrecycling.org
Receipt must be for a new low-flow toilet. New toilets must be CSA- or Warnock Hersey-approved 4.8 flush or dual-flush toilets. Local businesses offering additional discounts for low-flow toilets purchased in this program are RONA, Haney Builders, and Home Hardware.
Step 4: Wait for Confirmation Email
We will verify with the City of Maple Ridge that you are the registered property owner (and have not previously applied for the tax credit) and will send you a confirmation email. This email will confirm that you will receive the $50 low-flow toilet tax credit on your property tax notification.
Note: Applications must be received by April 30 to be included on that year’s property tax notice. Any applications received AFTER April 30 will be included on the following year’s property tax notice.
Step 5: Dispose of your old toilet
Your old toilet can be dropped off for free at the Maple Ridge Recycling Depot (10092 – 236th Street) as long as you bring a copy of the confirmation email we send you (on your phone or printed) as proof of eligibility for the tax credit. Non-program toilets will NOT be accepted for drop-off.
Did You Know?
Low-flow, water-efficient toilets can reduce household water consumption by 20%.
Approximately 28% of household water is used by a toilet. This equates to a savings of up to 30,000 litres of water per year for a family of four.
By participating in this program, you will be able to avoid the disposal fees for your old toilet.
Motor Oil & Antifreeze - #BringItToTheDepot!
Got old motor oil, oil filters & containers, or antifreeze? #BringItToTheDepot!
RMRS Volunteer Spotlight - Meet Dave & Kalib!
The Maple Ridge Repair Cafes are on hold for now, but we can still celebrate our awesome volunteers!!!
Dave and Kalib are a father-and-son repair duo who help us repair small electrical appliances. They will even replace cell phone batteries and screens if people bring in the replacement parts.
According to Dave, even when he was little he loved pulling things apart. His now 13-year old son Kalib is much the same, as soon as we pulled out a broken Xbox from the recycling depot, he pounced on it, screwdriver in hand, and had popped off the case in no time. He has refined his technique over the years but apparently, when he first started taking things apart, Kalib would “just take a hammer and screwdriver to things… it didn’t end well,” says his dad.
These two have been with the Repair Cafe since the very beginning but even before that they were always fixing things around the house using YouTube as a guide whenever they tried something new.
Their favorite memory from their time with the Repair Cafes was fixing up a vintage Disney picture frame with moving parts for a lady. What made it so memorable for them was how happy the woman was when they got it working again. From Dave’s perspective, events like the Repair Cafes are important because they “show people that they don’t have to always throw things away”. He also loves the educational component of teaching people how to fix things so that the next time something breaks they are ready to take it on themselves.
Thirsty Summer =
Beverage Containers for Recycling!
Learn about recycling glass bottles & jars and all kinds of beverage containers!
If you have never been to the Maple Ridge Recycling Depot or are wondering whatitems are accepted there for FREE recycling drop-off, we have a video series for you! The Maple Ridge Recycling Depot is located at 10092 - 236th Street, Maple Ridge. For more information, visit our website.
Got Glass?
In this video, we do a deep dive into the #MapleRidge curbside Grey Box and talk about Glass Bottle & Jar recycling Dos & Don'ts...
Upcoming Community Events...
Maple Ridge Friends of the Library is organizing a community Shred Event on SATURDAY, AUGUST 29! Come out and get all your confidential documents shredded and help a great cause!
In case you missed it...
If you have never been to the Maple Ridge Recycling Depot or are wondering what items are accepted there for FREE recycling drop-off, THIS is the video for you! The Maple Ridge Recycling Depot is located at 10092 - 236th Street, Maple Ridge. For more information, visit our website.
Maple Ridge Recycling Depot -
open until 6:00pm 7 days/week
Update: the Maple Ridge Recycling Depot will be open from 8:00am until 6:00pm Monday - Saturday.
On Sundays and holidays, the Depot will still be open from 9am – 5pm.
The Maple Ridge Transfer Station is open the same hours as the Recycling Depot.
Winter Hours (closing at 5:00pm Monday - Saturday) will resume starting October 1.
Composters, Solar Cones, & Rain Barrels available for ONLINE purchase
Ridge Meadows Recycling Society is a community-based, non-profit organization, advocating zero waste, operating responsible waste reduction services and providing environmental education.
We employ people with developmental disabilities assisting their integration into the community.
Vision: A waste free, socially responsible community
“There are so many items already accepted for free drop-off at the Maple Ridge Recycling Depot (located at 10092 – 236th Street),” Sandy Sigmund, President of Ridge Meadows Recycling Society, reminds us, “Paint, electronics, light bulbs, batteries, appliances, motor oil, antifreeze, clothing & textiles, scrap metal, & Styrofoam are all accepted at the Recycling Depot every day of the week. We are expecting the HHW event day to be very busy, so residents should plan ahead and drop off all their OTHER recyclables at Depot before or after the designated HHW day. On September 19, people should ONLY bring household hazardous waste to the event to help keep the line moving quicker.”
NOTE: Any resident a) showing signs of fever, coughing, difficulty breathing, or pneumonia; b) who has travelled to a country outside of Canada, been on a cruise ship, or visited a health care facility or any location where there has been Positive cases of COVID-19; or c) who has been in contact with a person who recently travelled outside of Canada, has been in contact with a person who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, or has been in contact with a person who has an undiagnosed respiratory illness or is being tested for COVID-19 in the 14 days leading up to the event will NOT be permitted to attend the HHW drop-off event.
If you have Monday recycling pickup, remember to set your recycling out on Monday, August 31 as the following week there will be NO CURBSIDE PICKUP ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 due to the Labour Day stat holiday. Regular Monday pickup will resume the following week on September 14. If you've got a LOT of recycling, the Maple Ridge Recycling Depot, located at 10092 - 236th Street, is open every weekend - Saturday from 8-5 and Sunday and Holidays from 9-5. 
Maple Ridge.
Step 3: Save your receipt! Scan it or take a photo of it and email to 
Step 5: Dispose of your old toilet
Dave and Kalib are a father-and-son repair duo who help us repair small electrical appliances. They will even replace cell phone batteries and screens if people bring in the replacement parts.
Their favorite memory from their time with the Repair Cafes was fixing up a vintage Disney picture frame with moving parts for a lady. What made it so memorable for them was how happy the woman was when they got it working again. From Dave’s perspective, events like the Repair Cafes are important because they “show people that they don’t have to always throw things away”. He also loves the educational component of teaching people how to fix things so that the next time something breaks they are ready to take it on themselves.
Copyright © 2020 Ridge Meadows Recycling Society, All rights reserved.