REmarket is a WRG-led pop-up community service to collect unwanted goods and prevent them from being sent to landfills.

What is REmarket?
We "REmarket" usable post-consumer goods that can be REused, REpaired, and REcycled to REthink our purchasing decisions by taking REsponsible actions in our consumption of material goods.

Where is it?  
While it is currently located in the temporary St. Lawrence Market North structure (the tented market at 125 The Esplanade, just south of Front Street), REmarket will be moving to the new St. Lawrence Market North building upon completion of its construction (currently scheduled for spring 2023).

When is it?
The REmarket is hosted every few months. The next one is January 25 & 26, 2023. Check out our events page for more details.

What do we collect?
Check out our list of items and guidelines for the REmarket and FreeMarket co-event.
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REmarket Stats

Below, you’ll find a brief summary of some of the key details and statistics relating to our previous REmarket events.
 
These stats are communicated to our stakeholders, community members, and fellow Torontonians to try to demonstrate the tangible impact of our collective efforts to rethink our consumption and disposal habits—anything’s possible when we come together in pursuit of a shared goal!

​REmarket 6 (January 25–26, 2023):

Key Changes:
 
In addition to accepting donations for our usual partners, running a one-day FreeMarket, hosting a repair cafe, and recycling select items through Staples Canada, we expanded our REmarket event as follows:

• We began collecting empty cosmetics containers for recycling through HBC's partnership with Pact.
• We began collecting disposable razors and dental items (e.g., toothbrushes, floss containers, and toothpaste tubes) for recycling through Terracycle. 
• We began collecting empty, clean prescription medication containers for donation to Earthub.

Key Stats:

Over the two-day event, we had 171+ attendees at our FreeMarket and received donations from 419 community members and businesses. Many of these donors also dropped off items to be responsibly recycled through our partners and/or used our Repair Cafe services.
 
This allowed us to accomplish the following:

• 34 skids (~13,736 lbs) of post-consumer goods were donated to The Salvation Army
• 3 skids of electronics were donated to RCT
• 1 load of prosthetics and mobility aids was donated to PFFD Inc.
• 1 large box of eyeglasses was donated to The Optic Zone, who will redistribute them to communities in need overseas
• 145 empty prescription bottles were donated to Earthub, who will contribute them to disaster relief efforts
• 2 large bags of cosmetics containers were collected for recycling through HBC's program with Pact
• 2 large boxes of batteries, 1/2 box of ink cartridges, and 2 large bags of used pens were given to Staples Canada to be responsibly recycled through their partnership with TerraCycle
• 1 large box of dental items was collected for recycling through TerraCycle
• 1 box of disposable razors was collected for recycling through TerraCycle
• Repair Café Toronto provided 18 volunteer fixers, who serviced 100 items (including bikes) for 65 visitors

REmarket 4 (May 18–19, 2022):
 
Key Changes:
 
In addition to accepting donations for the Salvation Army, Renewed Computer Technology (RCT), PFFD Inc., and Optic Zone (as we had done at previous events), we expanded our REmarket event as follows:

• We extended the acceptance of items for recycling by Staples to include writing instruments, batteries, and ink toners/cartridges.
• Repair Café Toronto joined us on the second day of the event.
• On the first day of REmarket, we had our first FreeMarket event, through which donations were shared directly with others in the
  community at no cost to them.

 
Key Stats:

• 30 skids of donations went to Salvation Army.
• 7 skids of electronics went to RCT.
• ~320 people visited FreeMarket
• ~360 people dropped off donations.
• 52 visitors dropped by the Repair Café with 80 items for repair.

 
REmarket 3 (February 10, 2022):
 
Key Changes:
 
In addition to accepting donations for the Salvation Army, Renewed Computer Technology (RCT), and Optic Zone (as we had done at previous events), we expanded our REmarket event as follows:

• We solicited the donation of mobility aids and prosthetics for distribution by our new charity partner, PFFD Inc.
• We partnered with Staples to collect writing instruments and other items for recycling.

Key Stats:

• 48.5 skids of textiles, books, and household items were donated to the Salvation Army (i.e., 3.5 truckloads).
• 5 skids of electronics were donated to RCT.
• A large number of mobility aids (crutches, canes, walkers, etc.) were donated to PFFD Inc. and will be sent to prosthetic clinics in Guyana, Gambia, and Jamaica.
• A large garbage bag full of eyeglasses was donated to Optic Zone for redistribution overseas.

 
 
REmarket 2 (August 24–25, 2021):
 
Key Changes:

• In 2021, our REmarket was a much larger event hosted over two days (despite the pandemic, it was a huge success).
• We also had volunteer fixers from the Repair Café repairing household items and volunteers from Charlie’s Freewheels repairing and tuning up bicycles.

 
Key Stats:

• This event diverted over 50 skids of usable items from being thrown into the garbage. That’s almost 20,000 lbs of diverted waste!
• The Salvation Army picked up 45 skids of donations.
• RCT picked up 6 skids of electronics.
• Homes First picked up 1 skid of donations for their 45 The Esplanade location.
• Repair Café Toronto provided 7 volunteer fixers and several non-fixer volunteers. They worked on 39 items; 70% of the items were fully repaired, and this was done in only 3 hours!
• Charlie’s Freewheels provided 3 volunteers, who repaired 27 (children’s, youth, and adult) bikes.

 
REmarket 1 (September 1, 2020):
 
Key Stats:

• 5 truckloads of donations (that’s 47 skids weighing ~16,450 lbs!) were given to the Salvation Army.

REmarket Rules & Guidelines

Connect with the Waste Reduction Group