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Going Green: Help for Managing Your E-Waste

By Carol Hochu |

What should your business do when those old computers, printers and fax machines begin to pile up? If you don't know, you're not alone.

A 2010 survey by Ipsos Reid found, for instance, that roughly one-third of Ontario business leaders don't know where their unwanted electronics go. Unfortunately, it's likely that obsolete electronics are ending up in landfill, even though upwards of 90 per cent of their component parts can be recycled. It's a problem that's only going to get worse until businesses join in and become part of the solution.

Properly managing end-of-life electronics is not only good for the environment, but it also helps protect your business. Electronic waste may contain hazardous materials that need to stay away from landfill. In addition, discarded computers and other items with hard drives or memory chips that haven't been properly wiped, erased or destroyed may leave potentially sensitive information exposed to misuse.

The good news is that British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island have all implemented regulated electronic waste diversion programs aimed at properly managing end-of-life electronics and keeping them out of landfill. These programs allow consumers and businesses to drop off items at an approved collection site for recycling.

The not-for-profit Ontario Electronic Stewardship (OES), for example, has more than 600 collection points across Ontario, where businesses and residents drop off used materials to be properly recycled, reused or refurbished. The program, which accepts more than 44 types of electronic products, works with a network of companies across Ontario that assist with the collection, transportation and processing of electronic waste. These companies meet the highest compliance standards and must be approved by OES.
OES is funded by fees paid by manufacturers, importers and assemblers of electronics.

Properly managing electronic waste makes sense. Not only will you end up de-cluttering the office storage room and freeing up precious space, you'll also be taking steps towards building a more environmentally sustainable future for your business.

To find a drop-off location near you, visit:

British Columbia
http://www.esabc.ca/

Alberta
http://www.albertarecycling.ca/

Saskatchewan 
http://www.sweepit.ca/

Ontario
http://www.recycleyourelectronics.ca/ 
http://www.ontarioelectronicstewardship.ca/

Nova Scotia
http://www.acestewardship.ca/

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