Massive Turnout for E-Waste Recycling Day

Trenton - Poor weather wasn't enough to deter the efforts of 800 + Quinte residents and businesses as they took advantage of an opportunity to have their e-waste recycled for free. Quinte Waste Solutions (QWS), an approved collector under the Ontario Electronic Stewardship Program, partnered with the Belleville Green Task Force to bring this waste electronics recycling event to businesses and residents in the area this past Saturday May 8th at the Yardmen Arena.

Jennifer Salutari, Waste Electronics Program Supervisor for QWS was delighted at the quantity of e-waste received. "I was amazed to see so much collected Saturday, the more electronics we gather today will mean less in the landfill tomorrow" she explains. A total of five 53' tractor trailers were filled at the event. Gleaners Food Bank also received support from the community through donations of non-perishables as well as monetary donations.

The high participation at last Saturday's event suggests that another collection day may be necessary. Salutari figures it will be planned sometime in late summer, and reminds residents that they may drop off waste electronics at the Belleville Depot [75 Wallbridge Crescent], along with their Hazardous Waste on Tuesday's between 4pm and 7pm and Thursday's 8am until 2pm. Televisions are not accepted at the Depot because of the amount of space they take up and therefore require special events like the one held this past Saturday.

For more information on waste electronic recycling days, please visit http://www.quinterecycling.org/

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.

Recognized for Environmental Excellence!

Trenton, ON – The 2009 Robert Argue Scholarship was awarded to Lela Hicks, a graduate of St. Theresa Secondary Catholic School during the Centre & South Hastings Waste Services Board meeting on December 21, 2009.

The Robert Argue Scholarship Award was founded in honour of Bob Argue, the chief architect behind the creation of the recycling and waste reduction program that currently serves the Centre & South Hastings area, including Prince Edward County. The primary aim of the scholarship is to encourage environmental activism and innovation, and to make possible the participation in an environmental endeavor for one deserving recipient.

An amount of $800.00 was awarded to Ms. Hicks, recognizing her commitment to the environment through her efforts at school as well as her volunteerism in the community. Lela was a devoted member of St. Theresa’s Green Team, and a driving force behind St. Theresa’s endeavor to become an Eco-School.

Lela volunteered her time with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity as well as Fixed ‘Fur’ Life, an organization that spays and neuters homeless or abandoned animals. Lela, just like Robert Argue, pioneered the creation of St. Theresa’s book club R.I.C.K. ((Reading Is Cool Kids), and through book drives, Lela and her club members donated over 500 books to local charities; Big Brothers and Big Sisters as well as the Salvation Army.

Lela is attending the University of Guelph, and says the reason she chose Guelph is because of their reputation for being an environmentally friendly school.
Applications and deadlines for the Robert Argue Scholarship Award are provided to the local Boards of Education each spring. For more information on applying for the Scholarship, or for those interested in making a charitable donation to the Scholarship fund, please visit www.quinterecycling.org.

For more information please contact:
Jeff Lauritsen
Communications Coordinator
Quinte Waste Solutions
613 394 6266

Highschool Fashionistas!

Trenton, ON – Art students from St. Paul’s Catholic Secondary School in Trenton demonstrated that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure with their 10th annual Haute Couture fashion show on the 12th of November.

The theme for this year’s show was "Anything Recyclable". Students from St. Paul’s graduating grade 12 Art class could use any recyclable materials at their disposal. Some outfits were made using film plastic grocery or newspaper bags, boxboard packaging from various brands of soft drinks and just about anything else you would find in your blue box.

Katrien Reed, the Visual Arts Coordinator at St. Paul’s, said "This year’s turnout was a huge success, and drew more than 150 people". The price to attend was $5.00 with all proceeds going to the St. Paul’s Catholic School Art Department. Funds will be used to help finance an opportunity for students to work with well known artist and Professor of the Fine Arts Program at Queen’s University, Otis Tamasauskas.

"The fashion show, which is really a show of wearable art, is always met with great enthusiasm and support. Prizes are given for Most Wearable, Most Haute Couture and Most Unique", explains Katrien. "Students had to do research and ensure that their materials were completely recyclable. We had dresses made from plastic bags, colourful cardboard boxes, pop tabs, bread tabs... You name it!" ,adds Katrien.

Prizes were awarded to Jordan Reilly for Most Wearable, Emily Gebhardt for Most Haute Couture and Holly Young for Most Unique.
Congratulations to all those involved in this awareness raising project. Can’t wait to see what next year’s event has in store!