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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
VICTORIA – The public can now protect their privacy and the environment by having their data devices destroyed by “The Shredder,” announced Minister of Labour and Citizens’ Services Olga Ilich.
The Shredder is a machine that breaks down electronic media such as hard drives, cellphones, BlackBerry devices and CD-ROMs into small pieces that can be easily recycled. The only industrial shredder of its kind in Western Canada, it is located at the Asset Investment Recovery government warehouse facility in Victoria.
“British Columbia is a leader in the protection of electronic data,” said Ilich. “That’s why we’ve invested in special equipment to securely dispose of electronic devices that hold sensitive information.”
Government ministries and public sector agencies have been destroying their data devices with the Shredder since last summer. The service is now available to the public for a small fee – $2.00 or less – depending on the type of device to be shredded. Each device is 100 per cent recycled, from plastics to metals to batteries.
“Over the past
nine months, we have shredded more than 7,000 kilograms of data
devices,” said Ilich. “That’s seven tonnes of metal and plastic diverted from
the landfill, and an immeasurable amount of private information that will never fall into the wrong hands.
Now that the public has access to this service, we’ll be able to do even more
to protect their privacy and the environment.”
Along with being home to the Shredder, the Asset Investment Recovery warehouse facility in Victoria is also an Encorp Return-It Electronics centre. The public can drop off their used desktop computers, monitors, laptops, printers, fax machines and televisions for recycling, free of charge.
Asset Investment Recovery accepts items for recycling and shredding Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 4234 Glanford Avenue.
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Communications Director 250 387-3134 |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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