Reuse Rendezvous takes place in Nanaimo on Saturday, July 22 and Sunday, July 23. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

Reuse Rendezvous

Popular Nanaimo swap meet returns this weekend

Jul 21, 2023 | 5:26 AM

NANAIMO — Hidden treasures will be lining city streets with the return of Reuse Rendezvous.

On Saturday, July 22 and Sunday July 23, people are invited to place their no longer wanted usable items at the curb for others to collect free of charge.

City of Nanaimo sanitation manager Taaj Daliran said a primary focus of the event is diverting material from the landfill.

“For every reusable item that’s been given to other people to be used, we saved the entire cost and pollution created by those products as well,” Daliran told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Those looking to get rid of an old golf clubs, tools, collection of books or even clothes are asked to label ‘FREE” on the items.

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Daliran asks people not block sidewalks and bike lanes with their reusable goods.

Aside from keeping useful items in circulation and easing up on the environment, Daliran said Reuse Rendezvous is a positive, pro-social event which fosters a more caring community.

“We have enough that we can share with each other, things that we don’t need it and that can be given and also taken,” he said.

First debuting in 2003 and only not held once in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions, Reuse Rendezvous has grown in popularity.

Daliran estimates in the range of a third of residents participate in the event by either off-loading items, or obtaining something of value.

However, a negative by-product of Reuse Rendezvous is people not collecting unclaimed items by Sunday night.

He said between five and eight tonnes of items are left at curbs, most of which is made up of unusable waste.

“This is an opportunity to share re-usable items, I want to make that clear,” Daliran said.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes