Newmarket's textile donation bins quickly began overflowing, and some became dumping grounds after they were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, much to the dismay of Diabetes Canada.
But the Town of Newmarket quickly responded to the agency's plea for support and immediately removed the six donation bins on town property yesterday, according to Mark Agnoletto, deputy director of Newmarket's public works services.
“The Town of Newmarket temporarily suspended its textile recycling program with Diabetes Canada on March 23 in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19," he said. "In an effort to alleviate illegal dumping, the Town will be removing these bins for the time being at all locations."
Town employees will also clean up the areas around the bins where items have been left, he said.
Diabetes Canada sent an email to supporters across the country about its "donation bin crisis" this week, urging them to contact their local provincial and municipal elected officials and media for help informing the public to immediately stop leaving donations or dumping at donation bins.
As a result of the province's emergency order to halt non-essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic, pickup of textile donations from homes and donation bins across Canada stopped on March 23, which resulted in the temporary lay-off of the more than 500 employees who manage the donation bin service.
"Sadly, some residents continue to drop off donations at our bins even though we cannot empty them at this time; and some individuals are using Diabetes Canada donation bins to dump garbage and more. This is posing a serious health and safety issue," the agency said in its email.
"We have contacted government agencies to help us to remove the garbage, however, we have not yet been successful. We simply do not have the financial resources to deploy staff to clean the garbage around our more than 5,000 bins."
It's likely many residents who are sticking close to home, and may not be working, are taking an opportunity to do some spring cleaning.
The Town of Newmarket also issued a public service advisory March 23 advising residents the textile recycling program at town facilities would be temporarily suspended.
"Diabetes Canada will be placing signage on all textile recycling bins located outside of the Magna Centre, Ray Twinney Recreation Centre and the Newmarket Community Centre and Lions Hall. They will also be monitoring the bins periodically to ensure the area around the bins is maintained," the notice had said.
Diabetes Canada, which relies on the clothing donations to help fund diabetes research and sends children with diabetes to camp, has lost a major source of revenue with the extended stoppage of service, the email also stated. Your donations are welcome and needed when the bins return.
"Residents who wish to donate their textiles are encouraged to keep these items with them until the textile recycling program has resumed,” Agnoletto said.
Newmarket partnered with Diabetes Canada in December 2018 to launch the local textile recycling program that diverts such things as pillows, oven mitts, footwear and backpacks from landfill.
About 100 million pounds of textiles each year is diverted from landfill, generating approximately 21 per cent of the organization’s total revenue, according to Diabetes Canada.
