DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE - A theft has led to the indefinite closure of the community recycling depot in Fort Providence.

Deh Gah School has run the recycling depot for the past four years out of a shed located beside the school. On Dec. 11, school staff discovered that someone had broken into the shed and stolen approximately 15 large bags filled with cans and plastic bottles.

This is the first time that an incident like this has happened in the community, said Lois Philipp, the school's principal.

"We're disappointed more than anything," Philipp said.

"It's a fundraiser for the youth."

Every year a different group in the school is put in charge of the depot so they can raise money for a planned trip. This year a group planning to go to Mexico to take a Spanish immersion course is running the depot.

Under the territorial government's beverage container program the school receives a handling fee for every recyclable item it deals with. For example, the school gets 3.5 cents for every can that it processes.

"When they're stolen we don't get anything back," said Philipp.

An exact value for the stolen recyclables hasn't been determined.

The school has decided to close the depot until the missing recyclables have been returned. The person or people who took the items are being asked to bring them back, Philipp said.

The Fort Providence RCMP detachment has been informed of the theft.