What is the Story of Stuff?

Video Description
From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.

Click here to watch the video

A Note from Jamie Kaminski, the General Manager
After watching Annie Leonard’s video and listening to her speech during the annual RCBC recycling conference, I couldn’t stop thinking about how I could do more... This movie was so inspiring that all I can think about now is,”What can I do?”

Last week I started by not purchasing a birthday card for my sister and her son, instead I bought them a book on the environment which they could share, I then wrote a little not on the back of the book as the card. Yes, I realize that this is not much, but I feel that this was a start and each time I make a decision like that, I feel that the next decision will make a bigger impact than the last.

So, I encourage everybody to watch this video and pass on its message, hopefully it will impact others as much as it has impacted me!

Hawk in the Yard

First bees and now Hawks!! At Happy Stan's "wildlife preserve", a Hawk is perched proudly in the sun.

EPIC Recap

Epic was a great event, bringing people from all over to join us in sustainability. Schools of children lined up to get their free Happy Stan’s tattoo and some organic candy.

Here's a cute snippet of conversation...

"No thank you, I don’t like sweets."
"But it is Organic!"
"Well in that case, yumm, yumm, ymmm, yummm!"

We are proud to say that Booth 605 left zero waste. Even the candy wrappers got recycled!

An Article from EPIC
by Lorne Craig of www.unicyclecreative.com

One of the friendliest booths I came across at Vancouver's recent EPIC sustainable living show was the unassuming home of Happy Stan’s Recycling.

The Happy One himself, Stan Kaminski, started his journey into the world of recycling by collecting newspapers to raise money for the Gibson’s boys club. Stan then turned his focus to the recycling needs of large industrial corporations such as Island Paper Mills and Sonoco. Happy Stan’s is now changing its focus from a materials oriented company to a service oriented company, providing information and recycling solutions to businesses and households across the lower mainland, increasing its material acceptance to include over 40 different commodities.

Their mission is to aid B.C. in its goal of zero waste. Through their network of fellow recyclers, they believe in disposing of material in the most environmentally friendly way possible and only deal with companies who do the same.

The list of things they will recycle is truly staggering. Some surprises in the list for me: Plexiglas, water coolers, electrical wire, metal car parts, pots & pans, oscilloscopes... (if only I had known before I threw out all my old evil-scientist lab equipment last week)

Their location is 1603 Langan Avenue, in Port Coquitlam, BC. Phone 604-464-0242

If more people knew they could drop off their recyclables or call for a pickup, would we see less of a need for a new Lower Mainland landfill?

Junk Removal & Recycling Service

One of our new favourite services is our junk removal and recycling service. Now with our hybrid pricing, we can combine your recycling and junk removal into one flat rate. We like to call it junk removal but really it is more like resource recovery since we actually bring all of it back to our facility where 97% of it is recycled. To request a quote, simply click here.

Change to Front Drop Off

Thanks to popular demand, we have updated our front drop-off with new signs, and larger bins. We have received great feedback and are strongly considering moving our plastic collection back outside!

Request a Pick-up Right on our Website!

Customers looking to do nothing else but book a pick-up can now do so online through our website. This feature can also be used when letting us know of extra items needed to be picked-up during a regular scheduled pick-up.

Now Selling Biodegradable Bags

Happy Stan's first initiative into the world of composting!

Bag-to Nature brand compostable bags will soon be available through our website. These bags make great additions to your already thriving compost, and helps keep your kitchen clean. Immediate purchase requests can be made by simply sending us a quick email.