Do you have a large household item you don’t need anymore? Leave it at the curb. Looking for a hidden treasure you can pick up free of charge? Find it at the curb.
During the most recent Bracebridge general committee meeting councillors heard a proposal for a town-wide treasure hunt.
Coun. Chris Wilson said the idea stems from a similar program which runs in Orillia. There, the Treasure Hunt program operates the third weekend every week from May to October to encourage the reuse or recycling of large household items.
Under the program, residents are encouraged to leave unwanted, but still useful, household items at the curb after 5 p.m. on the Friday of the event weekend. They must remove all uncollected items by Sunday at 11 p.m. Residents who fail to remove uncollected treasures from the curb are subject to fines. All items are claimed in “as-is” condition.
Wilson said he had hoped council could launch the project as a Bracebridge initiative, but was subsequently informed that it needed to be initiated at the District level. He said he remains hopeful that the District will decide to back the Treasure Hunt project.
Mayor Rick Maloney said there is currently an urgent need to increase waste diversion from Bracebridge’s Rosewarne Landfill, which is filling up at an alarming rate, and the program would dovetail nicely with those efforts.
Coun. Archie Buie said there is already an item exchange facility at the Rosewarne Landfill. However, he added that the current system can be somewhat restrictive, and the Treasure Hunt program may help to address some of the gaps.
“I can’t see anything negative with it,” said Buie.
Council agreed unanimously to send the proposal up to the District of Muskoka for review and then have them report back to the lower-tier municipalities with their feedback.
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We used to do this in Bracebridge and everyone enjoyed the benefit of sharing, finding, and making space. I found wooden butter boxes, and other antiques,rakes, shovels, etc. Everyone donating removed items in the evening. I believe it was done on a Sunday. It was short and sweet! Absolutely great stuff that didn’t end up in land fills. Remember, the wealthy don’t do yard sales, they donate and this was easy for elders as well.
Think it is an excellent idea and hope it will be adopted. It gets the community involved, not just those who are on Facebook websites.
Might take a few months for people to get used to the ” 3rd weekend” thing, but it works in Orillia so why not here?
Are you not allowed to out out free items at the curb on a regular basis? I live this idea, but I question why it needs specific date?