IF YOU’VE been to the city landfill recently, you’ll have noticed the assortment of items near the attendant’s hut that have been saved from being discarded. Furniture, sports equipment, toys and books are some of the items that people can leave at no charge for others to take home.
Dennis Beaudette, whose company Beaudette Contracting has the contract to take care of the city and Thornhill landfills, says the items are free to anyone who wants them.
“If you got some good stuff (unwanted items), put it there and it’s free [for someone else],” he said. There’s also a place to drop off items at the Thornhill landfill too.
There’s plans for a shed there with a roof to protect the items from the rain as couches and chairs can get wet and then be damaged beyond use, he added.
Just this month someone dropped off an air compressor. Someone else saw it and started it up.
“I said ‘you can have it if you want it’ and he was speechless,” said Beaudette.
People drop off the items often because they’re moving and don’t have room for them, he said. And they’re all items that are left at the attendant’s hut – none are salvaged from the dumping area itself.
“It it gets into the dump, that’s where it stays,” said Beaudette.
The items can be surprising ones.
After Beaudette bought a new drill, someone brought in one that was working but had no battery. “This one is one step higher than the one I bought so I put the other one [at the attendant’s hut],” he said.
Some items have been fixed up, for example, a black iron lattice has been painted so its leaves are now orange and red and stand out, making it look brand new.
The Beaudettes and their employees have even fixed up the entrance to the Terrace landfill by putting up iron lattice work. It’s been painted blue and is just underneath the landfill hours sign. There’s also a spot just inside the gate with a bench and planter where everything is recycled except for the mortar.
While children are not allowed out of the vehicle once their parents are throwing away garbage, they can be dropped off at the sharing spot and look at the books and any toys that might be there.
People even drop off plants that seem to be on their last legs and with a little fertilizer and water, they’re soon looking good as ever.
Planters no longer wanted have been dropped off too, including a working fountain that sits dry for now. However, these items are not available and will remain at the attendant’s hut to beautify it.