RR diverts 1.1 tonnes of electronic waste!

This summer, 29 northern Ontario communities took part in the RecycleYourElectronics.ca tour, donating more than 180,000 kilograms of unwanted electronics while learning the importance of e-waste diversion. Even more close to home, when the tour visited Rainy River on July 16, 1.10 tonnes of discarded electronics were diverted from landfills.
RecycleYourElectronics.ca, run by Ontario Electronic Stewardship (OES), now accepts 44 types of electronics across a province-wide collection network of hundreds of OES-approved collection sites.
Pierre Prim, Director of Operations at OES, will be in Thunder Bay today at the Ontario First Nations Technical Services Corp. (OFNTSC) Conference. He is available to speak about engaging northern Ontarians on the recycling tour and why it’s important to divert end-of-life electronics from our landfills. He is also available for interview tomorrow.
From May through August, thousands of residents in cities across northern Ontario participated in the RecycleYourElectronics.ca tour to learn about end-of-life electronics and, through select collection events, helped divert hazardous materials from landfill. The primary focus of the summer-long program was to raise awareness about responsible ewaste diversion by providing educational information and fun activities to participants attending one of 29 stops along the tour. In addition, a total of 180,716 kilograms (about 180 tonnes) of unwanted electronics such as cell phones, computers, monitors and televisions were collected through a series of collection events.
“It’s important for all Ontarians to know that e-waste is not garbage; it contains hazardous materials that don’t belong in landfills. It also includes valuable materials that can be safely recycled to manufacture new products,” said Pierre Prim, Director of Operations, Ontario Electronic Stewardship. “We were excited to engage northern Ontarians in their communities as our research indicated a need for increased awareness about end-of-life electronics. The response was very positive and residents were enthusiastic about putting the information to use at work and at home.”
“We are focused on our mission of diverting ewaste from Ontario’s landfill,” said Prim. “Our Northern tour has helped us spread this message across the region, while providing information and a convenient, easy way for individuals to safely and securely recycle their ewaste. For those who missed a tour stop, I recommend visiting www.recycleyourelectronics.ca to source a collection site near you.”