This morning, Kierstin and I went to the Vancouver South Transfer Station, Recycling Depot & Yard Trimmings Drop-off also known as 'the dump' located at 377 West Kent Avenue North in Vancouver.  Let me first say that I am a big fan of field trips.  Even the bus trip down Cambie was enjoyable because the bus driver really liked his job.  He said it was a piece of paradise compared to the 15 years he spent at a plastics recycling plant.  We met quite a few people along the way who were more than helpful to share their deep knowledge of the city's industrial metabolism with us.  Not only that, they carried so many ideas for improvement, and recognized that these things take time to implement.  Patience.  

These 2 chairs were on their way to the landfill but someone scooped them up recognizing that they don't yet belong there.  Perfectly good stuff.  If you ever get a chance, take a 1/2 day field trip to your city dump and recycling centre and just take a look at the stuff people are throwing away, and what is being recycled / reused / repurposed.  

It's mind boggling! 

I can't stop here.  Over in the recycling depot, it was a little more optimistic and future friendly.  But still an enormous amount of perfectly good stuff being sent to the shredders.  

Definitely though, the highlight was when our gracious tour guide showed us they're garden made entirely of refuse. This image makes me think how hopeful I am when I see plants growing out of old objects.