It has only been a couple months since the Salvation Army thrift store in View Royal has been collecting household appliances for recycling.

Although some people are using the service, Jeff Reindl, warehouse manager, Salvation Army national recycling organization, said, B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been a little slow to get going. People donB次元官网网址檛 know about it.B次元官网网址�

The Unplugged program began Oct.1 across the province. It enables B.C. residents to recycle small appliances at more than 100 locations across the province. The View Royal Salvation Army thrift store is the only West Shore location.

Almost all small household appliances are accepted from toasters to vacuum cleaners.

While Reindl is happy to see people using the program, one issue is people dropping off unsanitary items. All items dropped off for recycling need to be cleaned prior to arrival.

B次元官网网址淧eople bring in vacuums with the dirty bags still in them or deep fryers with fat in them,B次元官网网址� Reindl said.

B次元官网网址淲e arenB次元官网网址檛 set up to clean those things safely. WeB次元官网网址檝e found toasters with toast in them. If itB次元官网网址檚 mouldy toast then it goes in the garbage.B次元官网网址�

When items are unable to be recycled due to safety concern they end up in the landfill.

B次元官网网址淲e all want to recycle it,B次元官网网址� Reindl said.

Dropping off the items is free. All the collected items will be taken apart and sorted into groups such as plastic, glass and metal.

A fee has been added to new appliances at point of purchase to pay for the transporting and disassembling the items.

Metals are melted down and recycled into other metal products, while plastics and glass are sorted and sold or reused in various manufacturing processes.

Recycling fees on new items vary from $0.25 for an air freshener up to $10 for a large microwave. For household items such as blenders, coffee makers and bathroom scales, the fee is around $2.

B次元官网网址淲e can take any household non-commercial items. We canB次元官网网址檛 take restaurant equipment,B次元官网网址� Reindl said.

The Salvation Army also collects most home electronics for reycling, but doesnB次元官网网址檛 accept cellphones.

View Royal Salvation Army Thrift Store is at 307 Island Highway.For a full list of accepted items go to www.unpluggedrecycling.ca