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(Photo: Abby Zieverink, EverythingGP)
By Abby Zieverink
Applications open until March 15

Aquatera exceeds $1 million in donations through Bottle Donation Program

Mar 3, 2022 | 2:12 PM

Aquatera has officially donated over $1 million to local non-profit organizations through their Bottle Donation Program.

The Bottle Donation Program was started in 2003 and is in partnership between Aquatera and Recycle Plus – a community-based nonprofit organization owned and operated by Signature Support Services.

Through the program, a donation is made every month to a community organization that serves youth in the Peace Region.

This means 12 different youth non-profit organizations in the Grande Prairie area receive funding every year from the program, with roughly $50,000 from recycling refunds going back into the community each year.

Darren Stubbs, the Executive Director for Signature Support Services tells EverythingGP a program like this has a significant impact on the community.

“One million dollars in the community to charities, that goes a long way to their budget to do the extra things they need to do to meet their mission.”

Aquatera’s CEO Vaughn Bend suggests the Bottle Donation Program is a cornerstone between the program and the community.

“The community is super important to us, our employees are super important to us and when we can actually contribute back to the community, particularly with charities and organizations that are focused on youth, then that’s the future,” he explained.

Bend says with Aquatera is the Grande Prairie region’s provider of water, wastewater and waste services. He believes it’s important to help give back to the charities and organizations in our region.

“We are owned by the community and the community has been really good to us so, we have to reciprocate it at a minimum and it really energizes our employees,” he expressed.

“Aquatera is going to be here for the long term, so we need to be focusing on the youth and we need to be focusing on our future and this is one of the best ways we can do that.”

To be eligible, recipients must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a non-profit organization within the Aquatera service area — the City of Grande Prairie, County of Grande Prairie, Town of Sexsmith, Town of Wembley.
  • Provide programs and/or services that target youth under the age of 18;
  • Apply funds received directly to the enhancement and/or support of youth programs and services provided.

Organizations hoping to apply for the program can fill out an application on Aquatera’s website, the deadline to apply is March 15.

Those looking to support recipients through this program can take their bottles and cans to the Aquatera Eco Centre, the Aquatera Landfill or either of the Recycle Plus Bottle Depots.

by Abby Zieverink