Tip of the Day - 4 - e-waste

Electronic waste is one of the fastest growing segments of the waste stream, though many of these products can be reused, refurbished, or recycled. More than 140 000 tonnes of computer equipment, phones, televisions, stereos, and small home appliances (e-waste) accumulate in Canadian landfills each year. Toxic materials such as lead, mercury, cadmium fire-retardant chemicals and arsenic are used in electronic components which pose a risk to human health and the environment if landfilled. When electronics are properly recycled these materials are safely recovered and reused and kept out of our landfills.

 There is a province-wide recycling program for electronics in BC. Currently TVs, computers and computer peripherals such as monitors, keyboards and printers can be dropped off for free at participating depots. This program is scheduled to be expanded in July of 2010 to include most household electronics, toys, small appliances, batteries and light bulbs. For more information or to find your nearest drop-off location call the Recycling Hotline at 604-732-9253 or 1-800-667-4321.

 Did You Know?

• There are 575 million PCs worldwide (a number that will double by 2010).

• The average lifespan of computers has dropped from six years in 1997 to just two years in 2005.

• The concentration of gold is much higher in e-waste than in naturally occurring mineral ore.

• Developing countries are expected to triple their e-waste production over the next five years.

• E-waste makes up 5% of all municipal waste worldwide, nearly the same amount as all plastic packaging.

• If the estimated amount of e-waste generated every year would be put into containers on a train it would go once around the world!
  

Recycling Council of British Columbia

Recycling Questions? Call the Recycling Hotline!
In the Lower Mainland call 604-RECYCLE (732-9253) Other areas of the province call 1-800-667-4321
Hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm

 If you are unable to view this HTML bulletin: www.rcbc.bc.ca/wrwtip4