Gateway Resources is asking residents to keep recyclables at home over long weekends and to avoid leaving any items at the blocked entrance of its recycling depot, after staff returned to a heap of drop-offs placed directly in front of a closure sign on the August long weekend.
You can't recycle a suitcase filled with dirt
Loni Derksen, Director of Operations at Gateway Resources, says the organization began closing the depot on long weekends after a surge in non-recyclable dumping. “We decided that we'll start closing [the recycling depot] on the long weekends because on long weekends we had a lot of people dropping off non-recyclable items.” Derksen saw items such as toilets, car seats, and suitcases filled with dirt.
Derksen says that despite the clearly posted notice and barricades, people left materials anyway. That creates extra work and sometimes turns otherwise good material into trash. “Sometimes it rains, it makes everything wet... we can't [recycle] wet cardboard. And when it's windy, it blows [the recycling] around the neighbourhood.”
Derksen’s request is simple: “Just hang on to it till after the long weekend.” Residents can also use their curbside blue-cart pickup on their regular schedule if that's more convenient.
Respectful recycling
Beyond timing, what gets dropped off matters. Derksen stressed that the depot is for household recycling. This includes things like cardboard and paper, tin and aluminum cans, glass, and most plastics. Items such as couches, water coolers, suitcases, and car seats should not be left at the depot.
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Hazardous or mixed-material items need different destinations. “We have people dropping off batteries or containers of oil that should be going to the City of Winkler hazardous-waste drop off.” Some items may belong at the landfill, and separated metals can go to a local scrap dealer.
Derksen hopes clearer habits keep the depot efficient and safe for everyone. “Just make sure you're bringing recycling… we'd appreciate it if it was just household recycling. That's what we do.”
Quick guide for long weekends:
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If the depot is closed/blocked: Hold clean recyclables until Tuesday or use your regular curbside recycling day.
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OK to recycle at the depot (when open): Cardboard and paper; tin and aluminum cans; most plastics (Nos. 1–7 except 3 and 6); glass.
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Do not leave at the depot: Furniture, car seats, water coolers, suitcases, toilets/urinals, loose oil or batteries.
Where to take it instead:
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Hazardous waste (oil, batteries): City of Winkler hazardous-waste drop-off.
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Furniture & mixed trash: Landfill.
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Metals: Scrap dealer.