Zoo2U experience fun for local kids Page 8
Wednesday, April 10, 2024 Vol. 47, No. 15
$1 includes GST
Your LOCAL Paper
Viking Bottle Depot owners appeal to residents after door-to-door depot takes business
LIONS DONATE
Leslie Cholowsky Staff Reporter
James and Marilyn Harris got a little bit of a shock before Easter as they learned about an out-of-town mobile bottle depot service operating in Viking. The Harrises, owners of the Bottle Depot of Viking, say at least three of their current customers told Marilyn about it. She heard that the Innisfree Bottle Depot is going door to door in Viking soliciting bottle returns, and offering immediate payment. “As far as I know, they drive a white van and he loads everything in the van and pays on the spot.” The new service comes out of Innisfree, but the Harrises say that it was their understanding that the Beverage Container Management Board, (BCMB) has pretty strict rules about protected radius for rural bottle depot operators. Marilyn says she immediately emailed the BCMB when she heard about the new pickup service, and says that she doesn’t understand how another bottle depot can come into her business area and do unsolicited collections and off-site transactions. “We have been doing well until this,” Marilyn says. The Harrises have owned the Viking Bottle Depot for five years, and she says they’ve grown the business since first starting out. “But this has the potential to cut into not just our business, but also local fundraising bottle drives. “The thing is, we will come and pick up bottles as well. I won’t pay you at the door, but I’ll take your bottles back, sort them, and bring back your money,” Marilyn says. “We’ve always offered that service, we just don’t do unsolicited door-to-door returns.” The Harrises do out-of-town pickups as well, but these are only done at the client’s request, she says.
Viking Extendicare unveiled four new wall puzzle posters on Wednesday, April 3, funded by the Viking Lions Club. On hand were Frances Cantal, Recreation Aide, Lions member Dale Morrical, Residents’ Council Chair Jeanice Davis, Lions member Lawrence Newby, and Recreation Therapist Stephanie Driessen. See story on Page 5. “I’ve heard the Innisfree van will be in Viking once per week,” she says. “I’ve never heard of another bottle depot operating like this.” Marilyn says the industry is heavily regulated. She says she and her husband had to apply for a bylaw amendment when their religious views didn’t allow them to be open Saturday. “Now the bylaw says we have to be open at least one day on the weekend. “We are supposed to respect each other’s territories.” Marilyn says that’s what she was told when she complained to the BCMB recently, who then also said there’s nothing they could do. “We think we should be respecting each other’s businesses. We thought it goes against the spirit of the board’s rules.” Blaire Gaalaas, President of the BCMB, says the board regulates the depot industry in terms of who may sell collected bottles back to manufacturers, but does not regulate bottle collection. Gaalaas says that while it is the BCMB’s role to regulate how many bottle depots can operate within the province, they do not regulate who can collect bottles. “Collection can be done by anyone, including charitable organizations, and bottle depots. It’s our expectation and hope that each depot is engaging with their community with regards to the services they offer. “Community expectations are changing. Some people value in-person visits to their local depots,
while others might wish to have pickup at their doors. “Depots are very important to their communities. Our Depot network is doing some amazing things.” Gaalaas clarified; “We don’t guarantee a territory, but we won’t put a Depot closer than 24 km to ensure viability.” Harris says, “Right now the farmers are saving our business, but this could have a real financial impact down the road.” “I would ask customers to stop giving [Innisfree] their bottles. We also offer pickup service, if that’s what they want.” Marilyn thinks that having the pickup depot operating in town means there will be fewer bottles about for fundraising groups in Viking. “This alarmed me, not only for my business, but for the kids. This has the potential to make a big hit.” She says a bottle drive by the grad class made nearly $4,000, and wonders if people will still save their bottles, or whether they’ll opt into the pickup service and then have none left when local groups organize future bottle drives. “If our revenues drop, that could have an impact on the future of our business.” She says that for those who need a pickup, they can call during business hours, Sunday to Friday, at 780-336-3219. Marilyn says, “This isn’t a new service, but people Continued on Page 7