Two local redemption centres have once again donated nearly $50,000 to Bobby’s Hospice.

The Golden Mile and Grand Bay redemption centres partnered with Fero Waste & Recycling to collect donated redeemable beverage containers.

Owner and operator Mike Hamilton said residents can get a refund whenever they take beverage containers to a redemption centre, such as soda cans, alcoholic cans and bottles, and juice boxes.

Hamilton hopes this initiative will help reduce waste in the province.

“New Brunswick’s been lagging in that way. Reduction rates are only 60 per cent, but we’re hoping to increase it by 80 per cent in the next few years,” said Hamilton.

Golden Mile has three bins set up throughout the Saint John region: one at its Linton Road location in west Saint John, another at the Grand Bay-Westfield Redemption Centre, and one at Kennebecasis Park  Elementary School in Rothesay.

The money collected from recyclables dropped off at the three bins, which are donated by Fero, goes directly to Bobby’s Hospice.

Hamilton says he hopes they an achieve or even surpass the $75,000 mark next year.

“That’s my hope and dream. If we just outright double, that’s fantastic,” Hamilton added.

Bobby’s Hospice CEO Brad Adams says the non-profit organization relies heavily on community support, saying the funds donated from the community go towards yearly maintenance and services.

“We need to fund/develop about $1.7 million annually, and a $50,000 donation goes a long way to achieve those targets,” said Adams.