$103K Grant to Fund Canmore Reuse Centre for Bulky Waste

The Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley, a Canmore-based environmental nonprofit, is preparing to expand its efforts to keep reusable household goods out of the Francis Cooke Landfill.

Annually, over 7,000 tonnes of waste are sent to the Francis Cooke Landfill east of Exshaw, much of it still usable. The landfill is expected to reach capacity within the next 30 years, with no room to expand and no nearby alternatives. With Canmore projected to continue growing, reducing the amount of material buried at the site has become an increasing priority.

The Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley is seeking to address this issue, using a $103,000 grant from the Calgary Foundation to support the development of a reuse-it centre to divert bulky items such as furniture and appliances that are frequently discarded. A reuse-it centre is a facility where residents can drop off household items they no longer need and others can pick them up at little to no cost, keeping usable goods in circulation rather than sending them to landfill.

“We’ll be opening up a reuse-it center and partnering with the Town of Canmore to try and keep garbage out of the landfill because a lot of it isn’t garbage. A lot of it is couches and appliances and things that could and should be reused,” said Gareth Thomson, executive director of the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley.

Bulky household waste takes up significant landfill space and is costly for the municipality to transport and dispose of. The proposed Canmore facility would address these concerns by building on the town’s existing waste and recycling systems and creating a dedicated outlet for large household items that are currently difficult to divert from landfill.

Canmore’s proposal mirrors a model already operating in Banff. The Town of Banff operates a re-use it centre at its waste transfer site, allowing residents to drop off and pick up household items at no cost. Accepted items include small furniture, dishes, books, toys, light fixtures, and outdoor gear. Because the Banff facility is municipally supported and integrated directly into the town’s waste system, residents are provided with a clear alternative to disposal, making reuse a practical option over landfill disposal.

No location or opening timeline has been announced for the Canmore re-use it centre, and the project remains in the planning phase.