For more than five decades the Archway Abbotsford Mission Recycling Program has been far more than a place to drop off recyclables. It has been a workplace, a classroom, and for many, a lifeline.
With Archway’s operation of the recycling program having concluded on December 31, 2025, we look back at the program’s 50‑plus‑year legacy and the profound impact it has had on the communities it served.
“We’re like a family here. If it wasn’t for being laid off, I would never leave.”
A Program Born from Innovation and Inclusion
When the Archway Recycling Program began in the early 1970s, recycling itself was still a novel concept. What made the program truly groundbreaking was not only its environmental vision but also its social purpose.
From the very beginning, the program was designed to provide meaningful employment for people who faced barriers to traditional work. Individuals with disabilities, newcomers to Canada, people navigating mental health or addiction challenges, and those needing flexible or supportive work environments found opportunities where few existed elsewhere.
Growing with the Community
What started as a grassroots initiative – one truck hauling materials to Vancouver – grew steadily alongside the communities it served.
By 1978, the program was recycling 70 tonnes of material. In the 1980s, it received the Recycler of the Year award for its progressive operations and success in training and placing workers with disabilities in productive jobs in the community.
Partnerships with the City of Abbotsford began in 1983, followed by the City of Mission in 1986.
Over the decades, the program continually expanded – introducing curbside recycling, public drop-off depots, recycling education for schools, a compost demonstration garden, hazardous waste collection, electronic waste recycling, and acceptance of new materials as environmental standards evolved.
At its peak, the program processed over 10,000 tonnes of material annually, diverting waste from landfills while keeping recycling local.
For a full recycling history from 1970 to 2019, please visit our past news post.
More Than a Job: A Place to Belong
For many staff, the recycling program was their first job in Canada.
“When I came to Canada, I had little English,” shared Farukh, who joined the team in 2023. “This job gave me support, kindness, and hope for my family.”
Others found stability after years of exclusion from the workforce.
“We’re like a family here,” said James, who worked at the depot for five years. “If it wasn’t for being laid off, I would never leave.”
Staff learned practical, transferable skills like forklift operation, machinery handling, safety protocols, teamwork, and customer service. More importantly, they gained confidence, routine, and a sense of purpose.
“They saw potential in me,” said Aadesh, an international student from Nepal who worked at the depot for the past 14 months. “They helped me grow from line worker to front drop-off attendant, even training me to get my forklift license.”
“I’m not just an employee and they are not just my employer. We are like a family in recycling.”
Aadesh, recycling staff member
The workplace was intentionally strength-based: schedules were adapted, tasks matched to abilities, and accommodations were standard practice.
“Working at the recycling depot was the first job for a lot of our newcomer staff, so in a way, the recycling depot was a turning point for them to become more Canadianized and being able to contribute to society while building a new life,” said Nick Hour, business operations manager at the recycling depot.
“I will miss my co-workers but I will also miss the customers,” said Jerry, a team lead who is originally from Ethiopia and has worked at the depot for three years.
“I saw a lot of customers come in, so I learned a lot of English. So when I got this job, my life was getting better, and I can pay my rent, groceries, everything.”
Jerry, recycling staff member
“They saw potential in me. They helped me grow from line worker to front drop-off attendant, even training me to get my forklift license.”
Resilience Through Every Challenge
The program endured and adapted through countless challenges.
Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Abbotsford depot never missed a day of operation. Strict safety measures were implemented early, like enhanced cleaning multiple times a day, additional lunchroom spaces, and redesigned workflows to protect staff.
In the months leading up to the new contractor taking over operations, as staff found new jobs, the depot maintained a plan to keep operations running.
“As people started finding jobs, our operation became thinner and thinner, so we hired temporary workers to carry on and process through the recycling piles. It was difficult, but as people started getting new jobs, we always celebrated the win,” said Hour.
Transition to a New Contractor
At the end of 2025, the cities of Abbotsford and Mission ended their contracts with Archway for residential and commercial recycling services. A new for-profit contractor – Emterra Group – has taken over operations, consolidating materials and shipping them to automated facilities in the Lower Mainland.
“There were many tears shed when we shared the news with staff. Many of them were concerned about their livelihoods being lost,” said Midan.
“The whole thing deeply saddens me,” said Jen, a staff member who has worked at recycling for 17 years. “We have one gentleman who’s worked here for 30 years, and he’s deaf, and he just bought his first apartment a couple of years ago… We’ve got another woman, who has volunteered here for over 30 years… So, you have individuals like that, and I’m worried for a lot of them.”
Jen, recycling staff member
“Our efforts pivoted to finding jobs for our 62 staff. At the end of December, we are proud to have found over half of our staff sustainable and meaningful employment. We worked on upskilling employees when we could and worked on job search and interview skills,” said Midan.
Leading up to December 31, 2025, Archway interviewed several recycling staff and shared their stories on social media to help connect them with new job opportunities.
“We were touched by community members’ responses on social media. Local news outlets even conducted reports to shed light on the transition of recycling operations,” said Midan.
Krystle, who had worked for the recycling program for eight years, was one of the staff featured on social media who was able to secure a new job after Archway’s recycling contract ended.
“This job gave me skills I never thought I’d have – forklift, skid steer, propane. It’s the longest job I’ve ever had, and I’ll miss the people most.”
“We were touched by community members’ responses on social media. Local news outlets even conducted reports to shed light on the transition of recycling operations.”
Another employee, Donn, was worried about losing the stable income he had relied on for 25 years to support himself and his mother.
“My full-time job with the Archway Recycling Program provides the necessary income to support both myself and my mom,” said Donn.
“Donn survives on daily routine,” said Betty, Donn’s mother. “It’s very crucial to him, so he will be devastated if he isn’t working because he’s a person that likes to be keeping busy. He does all the yard work and does all our house maintenance since my husband passed away.”
Another employee, Chad, is deaf and worried about his options for finding a new job.
“I joined the recycling operation after completing high school. I worked full-time and this job had provided me with a stable income for 30 years. I have a great concern and uncertainty for what comes next for me as a deaf individual,” said Chad.
Beyond job loss, the transition to the new contractor represents the loss of one of the region’s largest inclusive employers.
To thank the community that it served, the depot hosted an open house and community appreciation event showcasing staff stories and its impact over the years.
“The event saw over 200 staff, community members, and stakeholders saying goodbye to the recycling depot under Archway’s operation. This provided our staff with the closure they needed to say goodbye to their jobs,” said Midan.
Recycling open house event
“We’re inviting employers across our community to step up and give these hardworking individuals a chance.”
Looking Forward
Archway continues to actively support staff through this transition – connecting them with new employers, advocating for inclusive hiring, and ensuring every employee is seen for their skills, dedication, and value.
“We know many of our staff have been turned away elsewhere because of their barriers or disabilities,” said Midan. “We’re inviting employers across our community to step up and give these hardworking individuals a chance.”
Those with job opportunities are encouraged to contact inclusivejobs@archway.ca.
Archway’s role in operating the recycling program has come to an end, but its legacy of inclusion, dignity, and sustainability will endure in the people whose lives it changed and the community it helped build.
Recycling staff