The REAL Deal Store offers other waste reduction opportunities for area residents.   The newest addition to this list is lightbulbs.  A wide variety of bulb types are accepted, including CFLs and fluorescent tubes.  Besides used electronics, the store accepts batteries  and used toner and printer cartridges, and gets them to other organizations to be recycled safely.  Scrap metal and scrap wire (including old Christmas lights)  we use to raise a bit of money.  The REAL Deal Store is also a drop location for plastic milk bags, which are provided to groups that crochet into sleeping mats.  We accept used writing instruments, which we take to Staples, who sends them to facilities where the plastic is recovered.  We are still collecting crayons and glue sticks for Earthhub Ottawa.  Please just give them to the cashier.  Due to changing circumstance, we not longer collect empty pill bottles or used coffee pods.  

Bags.  We are no longer giving out used plastic grocery bags with customer  purchases, so please do not bring them to us either.  You are encouraged to bring your own bags when shopping at the REAL Deal, but we do have reusable bags (or boxes) for you if you forget.  We get lots so sometime just put them on the free table, particularly the large rectangular box bottom bags.  If you are part of a non-profit that needs bags, please speak to us.

If you learn of of other opportunities we could consider collecting, please contact us.  We would require free shipping, or nearby location to which  a volunteer could deliver the materials, and something that does not take up a lot of space.