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For most people, recycling is a chore. But five-year-old Himmat Rai says it’s his “favourite thing to do.”
And to mark his passion for recycling, Rai and over a dozen of his classmates celebrated his fifth birthday at the local recycling centre on Saturday.
The Ridge Meadows Recycling Society (RMRS), which runs the Maple Ridge Recycling Centre, said it’s the first time it’s celebrated a birthday party in over 50 years of operation.
“We went for a summer tour, and then they said you can have your birthday there. And then I wanted to have it there because I love recycling so much,” Himmat told Gloria Macarenko, host of CBC’s On The Coast.
Ever since he was 18 months old, Himmat Rai’s parents have said he’s been passionate about recycling. And for his fifth birthday, he and over a dozen of his classmates celebrated at a unique location — the Maple Ridge Recycling Centre.
Joti Muker, Himmat’s mom, said her son has been recycling since he was 18 months old. He eagerly awaits the arrival of the recycling truck every Monday and waves to the operators.
“They were so impressed with his knowledge about recycling, that they said, ‘Oh, you should have your birthday here,'” she said about the summer tour.
“But at the time, they just kind of said it as a joke, not thinking, oh, that it would actually happen.”
The RMRS said in a statement that over a dozen of Himmat’s classmates, and two dozen adults, saw a tipper truck unload and 450-kilogram paper bales formed.
“We got to see all the crushing [of] the electronics. They crushed the microwave, they crushed the fridge, they crushed the oven, they crushed the stove,” Himmat described excitedly.
The centre’s electronic sign was lit up to read “happy birthday” throughout the day, and party attendees got the traditional pizza and cake at the end of the party.
Steven Rai, Himmat’s dad, said his son gravitated towards recycling early on — and now, he doesn’t even need to be guided through the different recycling categories. He even takes the recycling to the curb himself.
The RMRS said the birthday party highlighted the role of community engagement in “fostering a culture of waste minimization, recycling and environmental stewardship.”
When asked what he wants to be when he grows up, the answer is a no-brainer for Himmat.
“Recycling man,” he said.
