Just in time for your fall and winter clean up, the Cowichan Lake District Chamber of Commerce — in cooperation with the local radio station, CICV 97.8 The Lake, and Lake Cowichan School’s (LCS) 2014 grad class — wants your recyclable metals.
You will find collection bins until Dec. 1 located at Darling’s OK Tire and Auto Service and the old Stanley Gordon school site.
This initiative wants to take the scrap metal products that are scattered throughout your garage or backyards and recycle them into cash to enrich the community, its businesses, the 2014 LCS Grads, and the community’s own radio station.
Katherine Worsley, coordinator of the CLDCC and who is helping out with the metal drive, says the money raised for the Chamber will go to the Program and Events committee who provide money for student scholarships, the Lady of the Lake program, community awards and staffing the visitor centre among other community events.
Worsley says this is the first year for the Chamber to host a metal recycling event and hopes it will be successful so it can continue next year and perhaps include other community groups as well.
There are lots of variable when it comes to how much metal is worth. Some metal is worth more than others. For instance, a car being donated has roughly $250 worth of steel in it. Gathering metal from your yard in any size will add to the value of this fundraiser.
Karl Dalskog from CICV is excited because money from your scrap metals will help the station move its transmission tower to a location off of Youbou Road and increase its output power from five watts to 50 watts, ensuring many more people will be able to listen to our local radio station.
Since the station moved into its new location at LCS’s bandroom, Dalskog says they need “an STL, studio to transmitter link and a server network” — all very technical, but something they need to help broadcast the station to listeners.
Along with the new facilities, the move means LCS students can now become a part of the radio station.
Dalskog figures $15,000 would buy all the parts and pieces needed to complete the station.
Members of the Chamber of Commerce and the 2014 grads, who will also benefit from the fundraising, will be available to help you unload your scrap metals for the next two weekends:
Nov. 23 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at OK Tire,
Nov. 24 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Stanley Gordon School and
Nov. 30 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at OK Tire,
Dec. 1 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Stanley Gordon School
You can also stop by weekdays and drop off your donated metals yourself if that is more convenient.
For a complete list of what will be accepted, visit schnitzersteel.com. Schniter Steel, located in Duncan, have provided their time and the bin for this fundraiser.