Operation Come Home wants to put your empties to good use

Ottawa's Operation Come Home wants to put your empties to work for homeless and street-involved youth in need of mental health education, housing, and employment supports.

Each year, the charity runs its BottleWorks program, which aims to collected empty alcoholic containers from bars, restaurants and condominiums in Ottawa. In 2019, BottleWorks raised $95,029 in gross revenue and provided 24 youth with part-time employment opportunities throughout the year. 

However, since the COVID-19 pandemic, BottleWorks has lost two-thirds of its business due to restaurant and bar closures. 

That's why the organization is launching its “Putting Your Empties to Work” initiative.

Operation Come Home is asking any Ottawa residents who have garages that are filling up with empty alcohol cans and bottle to call BottleWorks and have its youth and staff come to collect them.

As part of “Putting Your Empties to Work” individuals can designate themselves a 'neighbourhood captain,' to collect bottles and cans in one place for pickup, and to arrange a time with BottleWorks. The BottleWorks truck will come by, collect bottles, and for any donation of bottles worth more than $25 a tax receipt will be issued. 

Operation Come Home is asking that pickup appointments be made only for pickups worth $25 or more.

Over the past three weeks, BottleWorks has visited more than 50 households and collected 5,291 empties.

The BottleWorks pickup is free and can be arranged online.