Bicycle, tricycle, recycle

A big thank you to guest blogger, Mike Wiley, for this post. An avid tennis player, long-time member of the Recycle Society board of directors and a refugee from the prairies, Mike feels he has landed in paradise and they’re all good days on Pender Island.

One cannot live on Pender and be neutral about nature. Not with black tail deer on the roadside, eagles, osprey, and vultures overhead, spectacular Pileated woodpeckers darting through the woods, Orcas passing by, sometimes extraordinarily close to shore, and tidal pools teeming with tiny, aquatic life.  How could Penderites be noncommittal about nature? 

Talking the talk is easy, but many islanders walk the walk by recycling whatever they can.  On Pender, recycling is recognized as being important, and also as fun!

The little hill to the recycling depot gives you the first clue.  The depot entranceway is bordered by a brightly coloured array of old bicycles, tricycles and kids’ scooters.  Bicycle, tricycle, recycle – now there is a clever lead-in to recycling on Pender.  The recycling depot is a meeting place for Penderites.  Neighbours and old friends abound at the depot and, of course, they exchange information, ideas and news . . . not gossip . . . never gossip . . . well hardly ever gossip.

Depot users cover the spectrum of Penderites - permanent residents, seasonal residents, visitors, young old, wealthy, not-so wealthy, artists, writers, professionals and retired folk.  They all seem to have a smile for each other, partly because, more often than not, they know each other and definitely because by their very presence, each has declared that he or she “cares” about the island.

If that common bond isn’t enough, it is worth the visit just to observe the committed staff members who, even during those hectic rush periods, have time to offer a smile and assistance to customers puzzling over which recyclable goes into which bin.  Apart from a shared, passionate belief in recycling, the Recycling Depot staff also reflects Pender’s diversity - kayaker, photographer, pole dance instructor, medical first responder, an internationally acclaimed musician, gardeners extraordinaire, and lifelong recycling activists. 

 

In keeping with the commitment to recycling, the depot has a free store, a used appliance area and a repaired bicycle area.  The usable items in the free store are just that:  Free.  The appliance and the newly added bicycle area boast items in good operational condition available at a nominal, and I mean nominal, fee.

So, enjoy watching the passing Orcas from the Pender shoreline.  Have a sunny, unhurried game of golf or tennis, or the unique delight of disc golf, but be sure you don’t leave the island without a Recycling Depot drive through.  That drive through will tell you a lot about who Penderites really are.

More Info

Recycling Society web site:  www.penderislandrecycling.com

Pender Island Chamber of Commerce:  www.penderislandchamber.com/