If you’re like most British Columbians, electronics are on your holiday wish list or shopping list… or both. Unfortunately, more than 80 per cent of consumers in the province report having at least one obsolete electronic device at home.
If you’re planning to give – or hoping to receive – high-tech gadgets this year, the Electronic Products Recycling Association of B.C. is asking you to bring those old devices to an authorized drop-off location for safe and secure recycling.
More than three million devices are diverted from our province’s landfills and our environment every year. That means valuable materials are being recovered and used in the manufacturing of new products. In fact, more than 200,000 metric tonnes of electronics have been recycled in B.C. since the EPRA BC program started 10 years ago.
E-recycling tips for the holiday season
1. Recycle those old devices – No matter how old, most electronics with a battery or plug can be recycled. Just visit RecycleMyElectronics.ca/bc to find an accredited drop-off centre near you. Most British Columbians live within 30 minutes of a recycling depot, and there are over 250 collection locations throughout the province.
2. Reuse – If your electronics still have some useful life, consider giving them to family and friends. For instance, that outdated mobile phone can have a new life as a music player or gaming device.
3. Donate – Your old computer likely has value for non-profit organizations. Check out the BC Technology for Learning Society and their Computers for Schools program. As an EPRA BC-verified non-profit, they distribute refurbished IT equipment to schools, charities and libraries.
4. Sell – That older device may no longer suit your needs, but value-conscious consumers on second-hand sites like Craigslist and Kijiji might give it a new life. (As they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure!)
Just about any type of consumer electronics can be recycled: Computers, phones, televisions, printers, musical instruments, typewriters, DVD players, home stereos, video cameras and keyboards. Even large ride-on toys, point-of-sale terminals and many types of medical equipment are recyclable. A handy list of accepted items is available at RecycleMyElectronics.ca/bc.
Drop off locations for electronic recycling in Quesnel include B&G Bottle Depot on Legion Drive and Cariboo Metal Recycling on Sam Toy Avenue in South Quesnel.