Downtown Eastside

Bottle Depot & Recycling Service Downtown Eastside
UWC logo

Led by Ken Lyotier, this street charity’s first business was the United We Can Bottle Deposit which opened in January 1995. It now serves thousands of inner city residents every month and recycles millions of containers each year. The depot has generated 24 full time jobs for people, many of whom have multiple barriers to re-entering the workforce. It has also generated millions of dollars into the local economy via refunds on returned empties. Operating costs are covered with handling fees paid by the industry.

Led by the principal investigator, Ann Dale, this case study is looking at the beginning network formation which led the ‘binners’ and ‘dumpster divers’ in this community to collectively organize and whether or not this network formation is unique to this community or can be replicated in other communities. For further information on United We Can, please go directly to their website, www.unitedwecan.ca

Access the complete case study on United We Can here.
 

Ken Lyotier video interview
Ken Lyotier video interview
Ken Lyotier video interview
Ken Lyotier video interview
Ken Lyotier video interview