E-waste: End-of-Life Electronic Equipment

 

What is E-waste?

Electronic waste (or e-waste) includes computers, entertainment electronics, mobile phones and other items that have reached the end of their useful life.

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E-waste in BC

BC’s Return-It Electronics program is a province-wide, industry-led E.P.R. recycling program for end-of-life electronics. It is available to all consumers and businesses in British Columbia. The program was created in response to an amendment to the provincial Recycling Regulation in February 2006 which called for the electronics industry to take responsibility for the lifecycle management of their products.

In August 2007 the first phase of the program was launched and residents of BC could drop off TVs and computers at designated collection sites without charge, and be assured that the materials would be recycled responsibly through reputable Canadian industries. Phase two of the electronics program launched in July 2010, expanding the list of acceptable electronics to include stereos, VCRs, cameras, telephones and other personal electronics. A full list of accepted materials can be found here.

The first phase successfully diverted more than 4,200 metric tonnes of electronic waste from landfills in its first two years, and is currently averaging 1200+ metric tonnes of diversion per month. 

Phase three, beginning October 1, 2011, will include small appliances, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. The fourth and final phase, scheduled for July 2012, will see the program expand to include large appliances, tools, electronic toys and sporting equipment, medical devices, automatic dispensers and industrial and institutional lighting.

For information on e-waste recycling and disposal options, contact the Recycling Council of BC Hotline

Phone: 604-732-9253 (Lower Mainland)
Toll Free: 1-800-667-4321 (rest of BC)

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Who Handles E-waste in BC?

Electronic waste is regulated by the Recycling Regulation from the Ministry of Environment. Electronic and electrical waste is a broad category encompassing a variety of materials, from computers and TVs to fluorescent lighting, thermostats and smoke detectors. As a result, there are a number of groups involved in making sure all of these materials are safely recycled.

Organization

Program Name

Materials Accepted
Electronic Stewardship Association of B.C. (ESABC) Return-It Personal use electronics: computers, TVs, stereos, VCRs, cameras, mp3 players, etc.
Encorp Pacific (Canada) Return-It Personal use electronics: computers, TVs, stereos, VCRs, cameras, mp3 players, etc.
Canadian Electrical Stewardship Association (CESA) Unplugged Small appliances: kitchen-top, personal care, floor care, air care.
Summerhill Impact Switch the ‘Stat Thermostats
Product Care LightRecycle Residential fluorescent lighting
Product Care Unnamed Smoke and CO detectors
Canadian Hardware and Housewares Manufacturers Association (CHHMA) Unnamed Smoke and CO detectors
Call2Recycle Call2Recycle Batteries and cell phones
Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) Recycle My Cell Cell phones and accessories
TELUS Communications Company Unnamed

Rental and retail Telus customer premise equipment

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E-Waste Frequently Asked Questions:

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E-Waste Recycling: what’s really going on?

Electronic equipment contains lead, mercury, cadmium fire-retardant chemicals and arsenic. These materials are a hazard to human health and to the environment. Diverting e-waste from landfills and ensuring they are properly recycled is essential to protecting our environment. Despite the importance of e-waste recycling, it has been a controversial topic in British Columbia since 2005, when the RCMP seized over 500,000 kg of e-waste being illegally shipped to developing countries from the Port of Vancouver. The exporters were attempting to exploit low environmental and employment standards of developing countries to gain increased profit.

Beyond the ethical problems of this practice, exporting hazardous waste to non-OECD countries is prohibited in Canada by The Export and Import of Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Recyclable Material Regulations (originally The Export and Import of Hazardous Waste Regulations). These Regulations were introduced in response to the United Nations Basel Convention, adopted in 1989 and amended in 1994.

Despite Canada’s regulations, exportation continued illegally, particularly in port cities like Vancouver. In at attempt to curb this illegal activity, the BC Ministry of Environment amended the Recycling Regulation in 2006 to include electronic and electrical waste. Two stewardship agencies, Electronics Stewardship Association of British Columbia (ESABC) and Western Canada Computer Industry Association (WCCIA), were approved to develop and administer recycling programs. The programs began in 2007 and included home televisions, computers, and computer peripherals.

The programs were successful, with high diversion rates and enthusiastic participation from residents. However, in 2008, CBC’s The National aired a segment titled “E-Waste Dumping Ground,” revealing that a recycling company registered with WCCIA was illegally exporting electronic waste. The WCCIA stewardship plan was eventually rescinded and is no longer in effect. Regardless, distrust persisted amongst the general public.

Now, in 2011, ESABC handles all personal and household electronic devices, including televisions, computers, stereos, DVD players, VCRs, cameras, landline telephones and answering machines, mp3 players, headsets and docking speakers. ESABC currently uses five North American processors, four of which are within B.C. All recyclers processing program materials are audited according to Electronic Product Stewardship Canada’s (EPSC) Environmental Recycling Standard (ERS). ESABC must participate in an audit annually; the final report must be submitted to the Ministry of Environment and published publically online.  Although e-waste recycling had a shaky start, B.C. residents can have confidence in the ESABC Electronics Return-It program.

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Links:

Government
Environmental Protection Division: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/
Product Stewardship Electronics and Electrical Product Category: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/recycling/electronics/index.htm
Environment Canada - National Office of Pollution Prevention: http://www.ec.gc.ca/CPPIC/en/index.cfm

Industry Associations
Electronic Stewardship Association of British Columbia (ESABC): http://www.esabc.ca
Canadian Electrical Stewardship Association (CESA): http://www.cesarecycling.ca
Canadian Hardware and Housewares Manufacturers Association (CHHMA): http://www.chhma.ca
Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA): http://www.cwta.ca
 
Multi-Sectoral
National Electronics Product Stewardship Initiative: http://www.productstewardship.us/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=71 

Manufacturer's Recycling Programs
Canon's Environmental Programs: http://www.canon.ca/inetCA/categoryHome?msegid=32&catid=4370
HP Hardware Return and Recycling Services: http://h41111.www4.hp.com/globalcitizenship/uk/en/environment/recycle/hardware.html
IBM Asset Recovery Solutions http://www-03.ibm.com/financing/us/recovery/
Lexmark Equipment Collection Program http://www1.lexmark.com/content/en_us/about_us/collecting-recycling_program/equipment_collection_program/lecp.shtml
Sony Eco-Innovation http://www.eco.sony.ca/

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Retailer Take-back Programs

Future Shop: http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/e-recycling.aspx?path=b678e496690d22e556017a68d74a07a8en99
Best Buy: http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/for-kids-environment.aspx?path=1b97f6db034de7a129ae23529673166een99
London Drugs Green Deal: www.greendeal.ca/recycle.html
Ikea: http://theneverendinglist.ikea.ca/en/CFL-Bulb-Battery-Recycling.html
Staples: http://www.staples.ca/ENG/static/static_pages.asp?pagename=soulrecycling&cm_sp=Splash-_-Soul-_-recycling

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Articles and Publications:

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