Ontarians can now recycle up to 44 different types of electronic equipment.
The second phase of the province's ambitious e-waste recycling program was recently launched at the City of Toronto's Reuse Centre on Cherry Street in the port lands.Coordinated by the Ontario Electronic Stewardship (OES) - a not-for-profit industry organization responsible for developing and implementing the provincewide initiative - the program provides Ontarians with easy ways to safely recycle their unwanted electronic equipment.It is funded with fees paid to the OES by the manufacturers and importers of electronics in Ontario.Launched in early 2009, the program initially allowed people to recycle desktop computers, laptops, monitors, televisions, keyboards, mice, cables, printers and desktop fax machines, among other things.The second phase, which was launched on April 1 across Ontario, will permit the recycling of 22 additional electronic items including cellphones, amplifiers, pagers, copiers, answering machines, receivers, cameras, stereos, speakers, MP3 players and video projectors. "This truly is a very, very exciting day," said , John Gerretsen, Ontario's minister of the environment, at the launch event.Holding a large 15-year-old cellphone he brought along to recycle, Gerretsen said that until now Ontarians didn't know what to do with electronic items they no longer wanted or needed."The easier we make it for people, the more they're going to recycle of this electronic waste. People want to do the right thing," Gerretsen said, noting most equipment contains toxic elements, which when disposed of in landfill sites could contaminate soil and water."This program makes recycling easier and encourages consumers and businesses to do what they can to help," said Carol Hochu, OES's executive director, in a release."The reason to participate is simple - it helps keep hazardous electronic equipment out of landfill, which leads to a greener, healthier environment."Last year, more than 14.5 tonnes of electronic equipment were diverted from the province's landfills.This year, the objective is to divert 46,000 tonnes of unwanted electronics."Our ultimate goal is to close our landfill sites," Gerretsen said, admitting it's a lofty aim but one that can be reached with hard work.There are now more than 500 approved collection points across the province, thanks to the support of municipal government and businesses.In Toronto, several retailers are doing their part by serving as a depot for people wanting to dispose of unwanted electronics.The City of Toronto, which is aiming for a 70 per cent waste diversion rate from its landfills, is also actively involved in the initiative."We are the first and only municipality in Ontario that provides curbside collection of electronics," Mayor David Miller said at the launch, adding residents can place their unwanted electronic items in a special e-waste bag, which will be distribute this summer throughout the city inside the next waste collection calendars. Miller said plans are also in the works to provide this service to multi-unit and apartment buildings with collection bins. Residents can also drop off e-waste at the city's six transfer stations and at local community environment days, which take place throughout the year in all Toronto wards."This all came about because of new legislation (Waste Diversion Act, 2002) by the province and I think it's terrific."Visit dowhatyoucan.ca for more information about the province's electronic recycling program or to find your nearest dropoff location.