By Brittney Matejka

Environmental waste roundup helping to reduce landfill waste in Medicine Hat

May 12, 2018 | 4:06 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB. – The Saamis Rotary club held their 10th annual Environmental Waste Roundup today at the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede grounds.

Sharon McDonnell with Saamis Rotary Club said they have had over 200 cars come through and dropping off unwanted items throughout the course of the day.

“We are here for the public to come in and drop off anything they have that maybe they’re not sure how to dispose of, she said. “They know that by bringing it here it will be disposed of appropriately.”

McDonnell said they take a variety of items ranging from coffee machines to televisions.

“We basically say we take anything with a cord,” she said. “We need to draw a bit of a line there because we won’t take your refrigerator or your freezer but we have had people bring a washer or dryer.”

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At the recycling event volunteers cut off all the electronic cords to be recycled separately and disposed of explained McDonnell.

“Whatever is inside those cords the wires and everything, that will be recycled,” she said. “We didn’t know this until 2 years ago but that’s very valuable to be doing that.”

McDonnell said the annual event is helpful to our community as it reduces Medicine Hat’s waste.

“Most of all of this can be recycled in some way, shape or form,” she said. “It’s not adding to the landfill it’s reducing what is going to the landfill which we do need to be conscious of.”

The Saamis Rotary Club does use the collect as a fundraiser. They receive a premium for certain electronic items that are collected throughout the day. McDonnell said all the money raised goes back into Medicine Hat.

“What we earn from this we turn around and we put back into the community,” she said. “We give it to non-profit organizations.”

McDonnell said on behalf of the club she wishes to extend a a thank-you to the residents of Medicine Hat for bringing out their unwanted items and supporting their annual event.

“They think we’re doing a great job but they’re doing a great job bringing the stuff to us,” she said.

Also at the event, McDonnell said they had a collection for household hazardous waste including yard chemicals, used batteries, and paint.