By Ian Holmes

Nanaimo Recycling Exchange will close without increase in City funding

Feb 21, 2018 | 2:31 PM

NANAIMO — A last ditch effort will be made by the Nanaimo Recycling Exchange for City of Nanaimo funding to avoid closing the doors for good.

NRE excutive director Jan Hastings told NanaimoNewsNOW they’ll formally request $200,000 in annual funding at next Monday’s Committee of the Whole meeting.

“The $200,000 we’re going to ask the City for is the make it or break it amount,” Hastings said. “That will determine whether there is a future for the NRE or if we close.”

The NRE’s lease expires at its current deteriorating Kenworth Rd. facility at the end of March and Hastings said no more extensions will be granted. The NRE owns land next door, but has long struggled to secure the capital funding required to build a new home there.

The Regional District of Nanaimo recently pledged conditional approval of $300,000 annually toward the NRE for five years starting next year, which was less than it asked for.

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Hastings stressed $500,000 in annual local government support would allow the NRE to continue to provide a full-service, one stop recycling hub in a new facility.

Hastings called the RDN’s pledge encouraging, but said more funds are required and time is running out.

“We need the answer right away. If we get the answer we go, we start to build.”

Hastings said she will do “everything she can” to keep the NRE open in a temporary location if the City comes through with financial support.

The City currently provides the NRE with $77,000 annually.

The NRE recently informed NanaimoNewsNOW its operating expenses are $1.1 million a year. It’s still unclear how much a new facility would cost.

Ian@NanaimoNewsNow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes