March 15, 2026 | Did you know that disposal of non-saleable items costs our DHAS Thrift Shop more than $30,000 each year?
The Delta Hospital Auxiliary Society Thrift Shop has been a fixture of the Ladner business community since 1976.
As we head into spring cleanup season, we’d like to address a growing concern: non-saleable items being dropped off at our Thrift Shop. We receive about 8000 items each day, and unfortunately, a large proportion of these items are not saleable and create real costs and risks. DHAS spends more than $30,000 each year to have garbage hauled away–money that could and should be spent on hospital equipment, patient comfort, and essential services—not on transporting items that cannot be sold.
DHAS President Maureen Mooney says, “Since DHAS’s founding in 1969, thanks to the generosity of our community and the energy and dedication of our volunteers, our Society has donated nearly $20 million to the Delta Hospital Campus of Care. However, we now need the community’s help to stop the wasteful and unnecessary dumping of non-saleable items. The $30,000 that we spent last year on waste disposal could have purchased vital medical equipment for our hospital.”
During spring clean-up season, we’re asking every member of the Delta community to “Please Keep Your Junk in Your Trunk!” Before you drop off your used items, please take a moment to consider:
- Is this item clean, safe, and in good condition?
- Would you be proud to have a neighbour shop for it?
If the answer is no, please do not leave it at our DHAS Thrift Shop!
There are lots of constructive ways to recycle or dispose of items that aren’t saleable. Consider these options:
- Post your item on the South Delta Give-it-Away Facebook group
- Check the City of Delta’s Recycle Coach app: https://www.delta.ca/services/garbage-recycling/recycling
- Book a large item pickup by emailing largeitempickup@rempledisposal.com
- If you’re unsure whether an item is acceptable, check with our friendly DHAS volunteers at the front of the Thrift Shop for guidance before you drop off.
By keeping non-saleable items out of the donation stream, you help protect our volunteers, reduce waste, and ensure more resources flow toward the Delta Hospital Campus of Care that we all rely on. Your continued support is the bedrock of our success, and together we can keep the DHAS Thrift Shop thriving for years to come.
Learn more about which items we are not able to accept.
