Heard of the Green Depot?

Operated by the UNA, the Green Depot provides the UNA and UBC community with responsible waste repurposing and disposal options that are socially, economically, and environmentally conscious. Staffed by part-time employees and community volunteers, the Depot is committed to reducing landfill waste and fostering a stronger UNA community.

• What is the Green Depot?
  The Green Depot is a recycling centre for items that you cannot recycle in your residential buildings with many other features as well!
• Where is the Green Depot?
  The Green Depot is located on the side of the Wesbrook Community Centre near University-Hill Secondary School.
• What can I bring to the Green Depot?
  Accepted items include: Broken small household appliances such as vacuums, clothing, textiles, shoes, broken household electronics, flexible plastics, light bulbs, batteries, ink cartridges and writing instruments, Styrofoam, and more!The Green Depot also accepts donations that are in good condition! This includes camping equipment, sports gear, toys, household decorations and more.Items the Green Depot cannot accept include: Foam food containers, broken light bulbs, automotive or marine batteries, large household appliances or furniture, residential recycling, aerosols, and others.For more information about what the Green Depot accepts, use the Waste Wizard Tool on the Green Depot website.
• What else does the Green Depot do? 
  • Circulating (free) Used Items & Clothing 
    The Green Depot now offers free used items 7 days a week during operating hours. This community-driven initiative features a range of items, including clothing, shoes, sports equipment, textbooks, home décor and more.Fun Fact: In August 2024, UNA community members repurposed 1126 KG of books, clothing, toys, and other items within the community through the free item Circular Economy Initiative! That is about the average weight of a hippopotamus!
    
    This initiative embodies the principles of a circular economy by facilitating the redistribution of items that might otherwise be discarded. By encouraging the reuse of these items, we reduce waste and minimize the environmental impact associated with the production and disposal of goods. This initiative also supports the development of a sharing culture within our community.The selection of items and clothing is always changing, visit the Green Depot to see what we have available!
  • Community Share Library 
    This Community Library initiative allows you to browse and take home used books at no cost! Our rotating collection includes children’s books, fiction and non-fiction novels, textbooks, and literature in various languages. UNA residents, UBC staff and students, and U-Town card holders are also encouraged to contribute by donating their unwanted books.The Community Share Library promotes sustainability by extending the lifecycle of books, reducing the need for new printing, and fostering a culture of reuse within our community. By participating, you help decrease waste and ensure that valuable reading materials are more accessible to everyone.
  • Seed Lending Library
    UNA residents, UBC staff and students, and U-Town card holders can now access the Seed Lending Library at our Green Depot facility. Like traditional library services, a seed library provides access to a resource for community members. Residents are encouraged to come take seeds for their gardens (or windowsill gardens) to grow a variety of vegetables, herbs, and other plants!The library is a collection of seeds that can be “borrowed” with the goal of contributing to learning, experimentation, and community food growing. As users learn about seed saving, they return the seeds from their crops for others to use.This initiative was made possible by generous seed donations from the UBC Farm and West Coast Seeds. For more information about seed lending libraries, please visit the Seed Lending Library website.

Want to know more?  Visit myuna.ca/depot