Goodwill Pilot Program

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The Leduc & District Waste Management Facility is partnering with Goodwill Industries of Alberta for a one-year pilot that will replace the current Take-it-or-Leave-it with a new donation process, starting May 2023.

What residents need to know:

The drop-off process for donations will ultimately remain the same, however the program will be managed by Goodwill and their designated staff.

Residents will still be able to drop off new or slightly used household goods in the Public Drop Off area, but the take-it option will be removed.

Goodwill (based out of Edmonton) will collect the items and sell them at a discounted price in their local thrift and outlet stores. Items that are damaged or do not sell in-store will be repaired, repurposed, refurbished, recycled or downcycled at the Goodwill Impact Centre in Edmonton.

Frequently Asked Questions

What led to the decision to partner with Goodwill?

The Take-it or Leave-it facility has been facing many operational challenges that needed addressing. Through this pilot the following improvements can be made.

•  Enhanced Safety & Traffic Flow – Removal of donation perusal will improve traffic bottleneck and pedestrian safety concerns. 

• Increased Capacity – The facility will be actively managed by Goodwill representatives and will no longer be overflowing in peak months.

• Improved Waste Diversion – Due to capacity and staffing concerns, 60-75% of donated items were previously landfilled. Goodwill has the ability to divert 90% of donations, extending the lifespan of our regional landfill and the items. 

• Utilization of Expertise and Resources – Goodwill has the resources, staff and experience in managing many community drop off facilities throughout Alberta. This includes a repair centre to fix broken and undesirable items, further supporting waste diversion and a circular economy.

Why did the facility choose to partner with Goodwill Alberta and not a local donation centre?

Local donation centres within the member municipalities do not have the capacity to manage a project of this scale, therefore the decision was made to work with an experienced, Alberta organization that could take on this pilot project in its entirety. 

Goodwill Alberta was selected based on their robust sustainability programs and resources, and their excellent reputation and impact on the community. Goodwill Alberta diverted over 19 million kilograms from local landfills in 2021 and is a trusted partner of many organizations such as the Government of Alberta, TELUS, Suncor and ATB Financial. 

How is Goodwill Industries of Alberta different from Goodwill International?

The Goodwill enterprise is a network of more than 150 community-based, autonomous organizations in the United States and Canada. While Goodwill International is the over-arching brand, each Goodwill around the world operates independently; designing its own mission, programs and services. 

Specifically, Goodwill Industries of Alberta is entirely run by Albertans, for Albertans. Goodwill Alberta partners with the Government of Alberta to support those with disabilities or barriers with meaningful employment through their Career Connections program. As a self-sustaining, non-profit, social enterprise, 90% of every dollar raised from donated items is used towards localized mission programs in Alberta, such as You Can Ride 2, Goodwill @ Work and the Employer Accelerator Program. While these programs are within Goodwill, Goodwill also works with private organizations across the province to find the right job for the right person. Since 1963, Goodwill Industries of Alberta has worked with over 2,000 companies in Alberta to hire people with disabilities.

Goodwill is a non-profit registered charity incorporated without share capital under the Societies Act of Alberta. Additional charity information can be obtained at CRA’s website: https://apps.cra-arc.gc.ca/ebci/hacc/srch/pub/bscSrch?q.srchNm=goodwill+industries+of+alberta&q.stts=0007&p=1

For more information on Goodwill Alberta, visit https://www.goodwill.ab.ca/about or visit ar.goodwill.ab.ca to view their most recent Annual Report.

How will the pilot program be assessed at the end of the year?

Public feedback will be collected through an onsite comment card. This feedback, along with the waste diversion statistics and operational impacts will be reviewed at the conclusion of the one-year pilot by the Leduc & District Regional Waste Management Commission prior to making a decision.