Strathcona County has officially opened up their new and improved HodgePodge Lodge facility.
On Wednesday (Mar. 1) Mayor Rod Frank was joined by Erin Wildeboer, the county's waste diversion program liaison, for the grand opening.
"It feels great," said Frank. "People are really enthusiastic about the Hodgepodge Lodge, it fills a real need for reuse in our county."
"In the old days, everything got thrown out. That's no longer the answer."
For those that don't know, the Hodgepodge Lodge is a reuse station where residents can drop off unwanted materials, but also pick up anything they find in the lodge for free.
"There isn't anything I haven't seen in here, really," said Wildeboer. "A lot of the things that do come in, go quickly."
"[We have everything from] household items, pet supplies, DVDs, VHS, records, toys, art and craft supplies, holiday decor, and any type of container you could possibly need...the list is endless."
The new building is a significant upgrade, sitting at about 1,500 square feet. Their previous location was run out of a sea can.
"It's very exciting, it feels like we've been waiting for this building for years," said Wildeboer.
In true hodgepodge fashion, the new facility was constructed almost completely from reused materials.
"The roof is made up of the ends of roofing jobs, so you'll see it's a little patchwork looking," said Wildeboer. "The tables we got from Alberta Health Services when we were a COVID testing site... The overhead door came out of a showroom."
When it comes to what Wildeboer wants the community to know about the new Hodgepodge Lodge, it's simple.
"It's wonderful and you just have to come by and see it," said Wildeboer.
The lodge has been a staple in the community since 2017 — it is located at the Broadview Enviroservice Station, 101 Broadview Road.