More Opportunities to Divert Waste Electronics in Quinte!

Trenton, ON – Beginning April 1st, 2010, Ontario Electronic Stewardship’s waste electronics recycling program will be expanding its list of acceptable items. For residents served by Quinte Waste Solutions, not much will change; this is because they have already been accepting these items for over five years.
Quinte Waste Solutions however, will receive much needed financial relief to assist in covering the costs of diverting these materials. "Up until now, we have been absorbing the cost to divert phase 2 materials, the additional materials approved by OES", explains Jennifer Salutari of Quinte Waste Solutions. "We will now receive a financial incentive to partially offset the operating costs of the program. This will also allow us to expand our special events this year, providing residents with more opportunities to divert their e-waste."
In 2008, Quinte Waste Solutions diverted 80.51 Metric Tonnes (MT) of e-waste from landfill. In 2009, that number increased by over 100% to 162.16 MT. That is the equivalent of 36 x 53’ tractor trailers in two years. "Quinte Waste Solutions’ goal for 2010 is to double the 2009 tonnage" says Jennifer Salutari. "We will achieve this by increasing the number of waste electronic drop off events throughout the Quinte Waste Solutions service area, in addition to our continued efforts of partnering with municipalities to provide local drop off opportunities for the residents of their areas."
Quinte Waste Solutions’ next TV and Waste Electronics Drop-off event will be at the Tyendinaga Township Works Yard on Saturday April 24th between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. This one day event is free to residents and businesses; however a non-perishable food donation will be welcomed for the local Helping Hands Food Bank.
Visit www.ontarioelectronicstewardship.ca for more information on the changes to their program, and check in at www.quinterecycling.org for upcoming opportunities near you.

Quinte residents divert waste electronics from local landfills

Trenton ON – The mild weather was welcomed Saturday as Leon’s Superstore Trenton and Quinte Waste Solutions (QWS) partnered up once again to divert unwanted televisions and waste electronics from local landfills.
"We saw everything from old model PCs and rotary phones to brand new, unfortunately broken 52 inch Plasma televisions", explains Jennifer Salutari, Waste Electronics Program Supervisor for Quinte Waste Solutions.

The volume of space unwanted electronics and televisions take up in a landfill site is quite staggering, not to mention the harmful toxic materials such as lead and mercury that could potentially leach into our ground water. By diverting waste electronics, we increase the lifespan of these sites, and give these unwanted items another chance at life to be used in new products. The event held on Saturday diverted the equivalent of four 53’ tractor trailers of waste electronics from landfill.

A recent report by the United National Environment Program (UNEP), identified the need for developing countries to put in place, responsible Electronic Waste Collection programs to meet the rapidly growing amount of waste electronics in these countries. With electronic waste increasing by a suggested 40 million tonnes annually worldwide, action must be taken now.

Operating under Ontario Electronic Stewardship’s (OES) Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Program, Quinte Waste Solutions is considered an "approved collector" of waste electronics. This program identifies roles and responsibilities for approved consolidation points, collectors, processors and transporters of waste electronics. It is a voluntary program, with strict guidelines and approval processes to ensure that materials collected are tracked and dealt with responsibly, from collection to end market.

Quinte Waste Solutions’ Hazardous Waste Depot operates year round at 75 Wallbridge Crescent in Belleville. Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment can be dropped off at this location, however televisions can only be collected at special drop-off events like the one held at the Leon’s Superstore in Trenton this past Saturday.