Did you know that through BVO’s collective efforts and with a variety of partners, we diverted over 425,000 lbs of materials and textiles from our local landfill.Our retail thrift store, The Treasure Shop, sells quality recycled children’s, women’s, men’s clothing, toys, books and housewares at very reasonable prices. With the population of the Blue Mountains continuing to grow every year, we take multiple steps to reduce, reuse, and recycle, while generating funds to help support vital programs and services in the community. BVO is truly a recycling champion. In 2019, our efforts were acknowledged by the Blue Mountains Chamber of Commerce with it’s Sustainable Innovation award. Approximately 86 BVO volunteers work diligently every week in the Treasure Shop to sort and price a large volume of items generously donated from the community via Drop Boxes located on site. Most donated items are sold in the Treasure Shop or used in BVO programs. Some go to other charities, organizations and families in need both local and farther afield. Some items are diverted from landfill in other ways. Clothing that is not sellable goes to textile recycling via “send-on-bags” that are picked up regularly by Diabetes Canada, for which BVO is reimbursed. We also divert appropriate items to Habitat for Humanity.