Canmore Launches Reuse Hub to Keep Construction Waste Out of Landfill

A new reuse hub in Canmore is aiming to keep usable construction materials out of the landfill as the region faces mounting pressure on its capacity from rapid growth and construction waste.

The Reuse Bow Valley pilot project, led by the Biosphere Institute, includes a reuse hub in Canmore and an online exchange network designed to redistribute surplus building supplies back into the community for free.

The project builds on several years of concern over the amount of reusable material being discarded across the Bow Valley. More than 7,000 tonnes of waste are sent annually to the Francis Cooke Landfill east of Exshaw, which is expected to reach capacity within roughly 30 years with no room to expand and no nearby alternatives.

The reuse hub is part of a broader regional strategy focused on keeping reusable materials out of the landfill. The strategy is led by the Bow Valley Waste Management Commission, which manages the Francis Cooke Landfill. The commission has previously said roughly 80% of the Bow Valley’s waste passes through the facility and that construction, renovation and demolition waste, known as CRD waste, remains one of the region’s largest sources of landfill material.

The strategy outlined goals to divert more than 70% of CRD waste away from landfill through expanded recycling and reuse efforts, alongside regional policies aimed at standardizing construction waste rules, improving material tracking and expanding builder education. The Bow Valley Waste Management Commission says its broader diversion programs have historically kept as much as 77% of waste out of the landfill.

“With Canmore expected to grow significantly, we must reduce what we bury in the landfill,” said Tanya Pacholok, community engagement lead with the Biosphere Institute.

The project operates through both a Facebook exchange network and a physical site located in Canmore (Unit B3, 105 Boulder Crescent). Residents, contractors and businesses can donate reusable materials while others can browse and claim materials free of charge. Priority items include doors, windows, cabinetry, flooring, fixtures and usable lumber.

“Our main focus for this project is CRD waste, 75% of items, with a smaller focus on household items,” Pacholok said. 

Contributors can post materials directly through the ReUse Bow Valley Facebook group or bring approved items to the hub. The Reuse Hub is open Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m

The initiative builds on an earlier $103,000 grant awarded to the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley by the Calgary Foundation to develop a reuse-it centre focused on bulky waste diversion. Organizers said the project was partly inspired by similar initiatives such as Squamish ReBuild and Habitat for Humanity ReStores, while adapting the model to the Bow Valley’s unique challenges.

“The unique context of the Bow Valley has required us to adapt and create our own version,” Pacholok said.

Pacholok says the project is also tied to broader affordability and growth pressures across the Bow Valley, where rising construction costs and limited space have increased demand for reusable materials.

“The challenge of waste also intersects with other challenges we face in the Bow Valley including affordability, and lack of space,” she said.

Pacholok said organizers are tracking diverted materials by both weight and market value, though it is still too early to estimate how much waste the project will ultimately keep out of the landfill. She said the project’s long-term growth will also depend heavily on volunteer support, staffing capacity and securing additional space.

“One of the major challenges is the cost of space,” Pacholok said.

The project will operate as a two-year pilot while organizers track diverted materials, gather community feedback and refine the system. The organization says lessons learned from the pilot will help shape a longer-term reuse network as Bow Valley municipalities continue advancing broader waste diversion strategies.

More details can be found on the Reuse Bow Valley Pilot Project website.