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VANCOUVER – Enhanced provincial recycling regulations will result in a new,
industry-led program for safely handling electronic waste starting Aug. 1,
Environment Minister Barry Penner announced today.
“Canadians
discard over 140,000 tonnes of electronics each year, which places a sizeable
burden on municipal landfills,” said Penner. “That waste contains toxic metals
like lead, mercury and cadmium, which can end up in surface and groundwater.
Because those materials are valuable and reusable, old electronics are often
illegally exported for salvage to developing countries with very poor labour
practices. B.C.’s new regulations require industry to safeguard against such
questionable activities.”
The Electronics
Stewardship Association of B.C. (ESABC) has contracted Encorp Pacific to
collect and recycle computers, monitors, desktop printers and TVs. ESABC
represents the majority of electronics producers selling products in B.C.
although other organizations are also submitting recycling and reuse plans for
Ministry of Environment approval. Reuse programs for functional electronics are
currently operating independently, but it is government’s intention to
encourage closer collaboration between reuse and recycling facilities.
“I’m proud that
B.C. leads North America in the development of industry-led product stewardship
programs,” said Brock MacDonald, executive director of the Recycling Council of
B.C. “This is another important step towards diverting waste from landfills and
zero waste in B.C.”
The new e-waste
stewardship program will be funded by an industry-set environmental handling
charge paid by consumers on the purchase of new electrical and electronic
equipment.
“B.C. residents
now have a secure and environmentally sound e-waste recycling option,” said
Panasonic Canada environmental manager Sean DeVries. “And the program is
comprehensive enough that ESABC can also promote responsible reuse of
functioning electronics.”
ESABC’s program
will facilitate metal and plastic recovery and reuse, and could eventually
eliminate e-waste from municipal landfills. Visit www.recycling.gov.bc.ca to view
B.C.’s electronic product stewardship plan.
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contact: |
Manager, Media Relations Ministry of Environment 250 953-4577 |
Corporate Communications Encorp Pacific (Canada) 604 831-7203 |
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