May 1, 2015 - Representatives from the Thunder Bay branch of Habitat for Humanity will once again be participating in Free Week, running May 3 to 10, at the City's Solid Waste and Recycling Facility.

Habitat will be on-site from May 4 to 9 to collect gently-used items such as windows, doors, building supplies, working appliances, and furnishings from Thunder Bay residents during Free Week at the landfill site.

Donated items will be taken to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore for cleanup and resale. Proceeds from the sale of donated items at the ReStore are used to support Habitat programs in Thunder Bay.

To reach the Habitat for Humanity tractor trailer, residents should proceed through the Weigh Scale kiosk to the leaf and yard waste drop-off area.

"Habitat for Humanity does very important work in our community, and we're pleased to partner with them again this year to divert usable items from the landfill while supporting a great cause," said Jason Sherband, Coordinator of Waste Diversion and Recycling. "We encourage all residents to take advantage of this unique opportunity to support Habitat."

The City's partnership with Habitat for Humanity extends beyond Free Week this year. Habitat representatives will also be at the landfill on May 16, 23 and 30 to collect gently-used items from residents using the facility.

This initiative supports the City's new comprehensive Solid Waste Management Strategy by forming community partnerships to reduce waste and reclaim materials wherever possible.

To avoid line-ups, residents are encouraged to visit the site early in the morning. For more information, call 625-2195.e amount of recyclable, reclaimable and reusable material that ends up in our landfill on a daily basis.

A big part of this event for the Habitat ReStore is the opportunity to have on hand a tractor trailer manned with staff/volunteers so the Habitat for Humanity ReStore can collect as much of the reusable, recyclable or reclaimable materials as possible. The materials will then be taken and loaded into the tractor trailer to be brought back to the ReStore for cleanup and resale.

- 30 -

Contact:  Jason Sherband, Coordinator - Waste Diversion and Recycling, 625-3851