Rocky View County (RVC) has expanded its electronic recycling program, which features more items residents can conveniently and safely dispose of.
“Now people can recycle almost anything with a chord,” said Jennifer Koole, lead solid waste advisor with RVC. “We are hoping to at least double what we collected in terms of eligible electronics in 2019.”
The project expansion was brought forward by the Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARMA) and approved by the government of Alberta May 11. The project officially came into effect Sept. 1.
According to Koole, more than 25 tonnes of electronics were recycled in RVC in 2019. According to rockyview.ca, diverting these and other materials out of the waste stream indicates residents are keen to do their part to preserve the environment for future generations.
Koole said the province pays municipalities per tonne received through these recycling efforts. More recycled electronics results in more revenue, which is used to open more transfer sites, allowing people more access to dispose of their old electronics.
“It’s to help us all do the right thing and to make it not a burden on the collection sites,” Koole said. “We are trying to make it more convenient by having more sites and not putting a financial burden on them. It’s a break-even thing.”
She noted electronic recycling has become much more than recycling computers and televisions. There are now more than 500 different household electronics items that can be recycled, including clocks, fans, heaters and microwaves, action figures, guitars, amplifiers and power tools.
“The definition of electronics has expanded so much,” she said.
More importantly, according to Koole, is what cannot be sent for electronics recycling. She said lighting material or anything that comes from a commercial setting would not be accepted.
According to the County’s website, any of RVC’s 14 garbage and recycling centres accept electronic recycling, while some bottle depots and agriculture roundups accept electronic recycling as well.
“As we get more dependent on electronics, it becomes more important that we have the proper disposal mechanisms that keep as much of the materials out of landfills,” Koole said.
More examples of what can be recycled can be found on ARMA’s website at armaepilot.com.
Jordan Stricker, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @Jay_Strickz
