ReSurf: A Program Born From Community Need

Written by Karen Hendry

Every year, thousands of pounds of wetsuits and hundreds of end-of-life EPS (expanded polystyrene) surfboards are discarded locally here in Tofino and Ucluelet. These materials are extremely difficult to recycle and often end up in our landfills. As a coastal community deeply connected to the ocean and shaped by a thriving tourism economy and surf culture, we knew there had to be a better way to manage these materials sustainably. Surfing brings us closer to nature, yet the very gear we rely on is harmful to the environment when it is thrown away. 

The idea for end-of-life wetsuit management was originally sparked by the Surfrider Pacific Rim Chapter, who launched the Wetsuit Reincarnation Program to tackle this growing problem. However, due to logistical hurdles and limited infrastructure, the program was eventually put on hold. A Surfrider volunteer later tried to revive it but encountered similar challenges—highlighting the critical need for funding, local solutions and dedicated infrastructure.

Now, with the ReSurf Program, that gap is being filled. Our “Blue Barrel” facility manages used surf gear collection, sorting, repair, upcycling and pre-processing. With the infrastructure in place, we’re excited to run this innovative and first of its kind program that serves both the local surf community and the ocean, beaches and waves we depend on. 

Surfrider is thrilled to announce that ReSurf is officially open to the public on June 3, 2025 -  and we’re ready to receive your wetsuits and EPS surfboards at the Blue Barrel, located at: 

1685 Peninsula Road (down the hill behind Jiggers)

Open Tuesday to Friday , 10am-6pm and Saturday 10am-4pm

Live in Tofino or out of town? We accept wetsuits by mail and are excited to be working with several local collection partners to make wetsuit and surfboard drop-offs more convenient.

• Tofino: Surf Sister and Long Beach Surf Shop

• Ucluelet: Relic Surf Shop and Long Beach Surf Shop 

• Ocean Legacy: All Depot locations (EPS Surfboards only accepted in Ucluelet) 

• Campbell River: Oceanfix

• South Island: Coastline and Seek & Surf (accepting materials starting in late June)

Every wetsuit we receive is inspected to determine whether it can be fixed, upcycled into something new, or recycled. We work with partners in each of these channels to ensure as much material as possible is kept out of the landfill. We have an in-house grinder that allows us to shred wetsuits before shipping, making it more cost-effective to send to our current recycling partner, Lava Rubber, who repurposes the material into various mats. All zippers are removed by hand and sent to Reclaim Plastic for recycling, ensuring no usable material goes to waste. 

A key part of our wetsuit program is repairs. We offer wetsuit repairs for both individuals and surf schools because we know how important it is to get you back in the water quickly. From broken zippers to patched holes, we've got you covered. An emphasis on repair and reuse demonstrates the zero waste hierarchy in action, which prioritizes waste management strategies to minimize the amount of waste sent to landfill and a shift to a circular system. Looking ahead, we're excited to launch our Wetsuit Warranty Repair Program, partnering with major wetsuit brands to handle their warranty repairs right here in Canada. Stay tuned for more details. 

ReSurf’s EPS surfboard recycling component is Canada’s first dedicated system for collecting and processing end-of-life soft-top surfboards made from expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam. In partnership with local surf shops and industry, discarded boards are collected and sorted at ReSurf’s Ucluelet facility — processing materials such as EPS, HDPE, and PE plastics. For instance, EPS surfboard blocks will be compressed using an EPS hot press densifier machine in-house. Once all materials are cleaned and processed, they are then sent to our specialized recycling and upcycling partners. ReSurf’s program transforms surfboard waste from a landfill burden into a circular resource, redefining how these hard-to-recycle materials are managed.

ReSurf is a community-driven program and we’re always looking for more people to join the mission. Are you a creative thinker or maker who wants to experiment with neoprene or EPS foam? Are you looking for a volunteer opportunity rooted in regeneration and the surf community? Do you have funding ideas or want to sponsor the program? We’d love to hear from you. Drop by the Blue Barrel or email us at resurf@surfrider.ca 

ReSurf is made up of a small passionate team of ocean-lovers, surfers and sustainability advocates.   

Program Manager: Adam Gilmer 

Program Coordinator - Surfboards: Daniel Raab 

Program Coordinator - Wetsuits: Karen Hendry 

Wetsuit Repair Technician: Lou Hamel