Gabriola Island Recycling Organization (GIRO) now makes it easier than ever for island residents to dispose of their household waste in an environmentally responsible way. Through partnerships with Product Care Association and other environmental stewardship programs, GIRO has recently expanded its recycling program to include items such as:

• Paints, pesticides and aerosols
• Light bulbs (all kinds)
• Batteries (all kinds)
• TVs, computers and peripherals
• Smoke alarms

Many of these materials are not currently accepted in the blue box curbside pick-up program.

A new web site at www.girodepot.com provides easy-to-follow guidelines on how to prepare these and other items for the GIRO Recycling Depot, as well as for their Reuse Centre, which keeps usable items out of the landfill by offering them to the public at affordable prices.

GIRO also offers island businesses the convenience of customised pick-up of recyclable and reusable materials from their business site.

In addition to these upgrades, the GIRO depot itself has been undergoing a facelift, with new signs and a reorganised Reuse Centre. According to the GIRO Board, it’s all part of their ongoing effort to be as user-friendly as possible.

A copy of GIRO’s new recycling guidelines will be soon distributed to island residents and is available now on the web site at www.girodepot.com. The web site also provides information about GIRO’s operation and how islanders can become a member or volunteer.

Contact: Dean Clark, GIRO Recycling Manager, 250-247-9257.