By Ian Holmes

NRE closes current location as Council awaits report on funding request

Mar 21, 2018 | 10:44 AM

NANAIMO — The Nanaimo Recycling Exchange has closed the gate on its current location, as the popular non-profit group waits to find out if the City will fund a new facility.

The NRE’s lease expires at its Kenworth Rd. facility at the end of March and the site is now closed for drop-offs. Crews were seen Wednesday morning clearing out items, which will continue through the end of the month.

NRE vice-chair Ben Geselbracht said the property will be demolished and graveled over once everything is cleared out.

“In the interim we’re not offering any services, we’ve had to deal with the closure,” Geselbracht said.

The NRE is awaiting Nanaimo Council’s decision on a request for $6.05 million for a new building on NRE-owned land beside the current location. Geselbracht said a lot of work went into positioning the recycler to continue diverting a wide range of items from the landfilll.

holiday check stops

Nanaimo motorists shine during province-wide crackdown

1h ago

targeted job action

Striking Nanaimo postal workers disrupt Purolator operations

4h ago

final flight

Massive Philippine Mars waterbomber preparing for final Island departure

9h ago

“There’s still a lot of opportunity and hope to get the new facility built.”

The Regional District of Nanaimo committed $300,000 a year for five years to the NRE, pending approval of the RDN’s Solid Waste Management Plan. The recycler had asked the RDN to pay for the new building.

The NRE has been working for more than six years to secure funding for a new facility.

Council recently expressed frustration over the lack of a formal business plan for the NRE’s new facility.

The City of Nanaimo announced the NRE closure on its Facebook page Tuesday night, encouraging residents to use resources on their website to find out where to take items which can not be recycled at the curb.

Ian@NanaimoNewsNow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes