Orillia looks at goods exchange at landfill

Freebie site in early discussion stage
By KELLY MCSHANE, SPECIAL TO THE PACKET & TIMES December 29 2010
Freecycle fans may soon be able to get their fix at the Orillia landfill, if a prospective recycling program gets a green light.

“I personally think it would be an excellent idea, but it will take further discussion to work out some of the dynamics,” said Brian Mawdsley, vice-chair of the Waste Management Advisory Committee (WMAC).
If put in place, the new program would run similar to the popular online freebie site Freecycle, where people can post notices for their unwanted goods, but would be set up as a collection depot within the landfill property where people could drop off usable unwanted goods, as well as peruse the items for things they could use themselves — all free of charge.
“I’ve heard of a few landfills doing this and it sounds like it’s been working well for them,” said Mawdsley, noting the program is only in the discussion stage.
Before a decision can be made, the committee needs to figure out the specifics, including whether or not a landfill staff member would be required to supervise the area and where exactly the program could be located.
The discussion won’t resume until the February meeting once two new members have been appointed by city council on Jan. 17.
Also in the new year, the advisory committee will take on two local students among its members — a first for WMAC, which Mawdsley said will give the committee “a bit of a younger attitude.”
Mawdsley said the landfill isn’t battling any sudden spikes in trash intake, but the new program would build on what the city already has in place.
“We underwent a waste audit last year and it was comparable to what we’ve seen in the past,” Mawdsley said.
“It would be nice to see a bit more of the organic waste being kept out of the residual, but sometimes it takes a lot of work to get people using some of the programs we offer.”
Currently, the city offers recycling for some items through green bin and blue box curbside collection, as well as accepting hazardous waste at the landfill site.
“Offering a Freecycle-style program, in my opinion, would definitely help further our efforts in waste diversion,” Mawdsley said.
Freebie hunting has garnered some recent media attention, as extremists, calling themselves Freegans, are working hard to promote a lifestyle based on the boycott of the economic system entirely by living solely on freebies.
When asked if the slumped economy was giving consumers the push toward finding freebies, Dan Landry, manager of economic development, responded, “While the economy may be encouraging more people to take advantage of some of these services (freebie websites), in general, it is human nature to look for the best deal possible… There is also an eco consideration here, from the standpoint that one person’s trash is another’s treasure.”