We're keen to recycle e-waste

THE volume of e-waste dropped off at Manitoba depots this year is more than double the amount collected during the same time frame last year, less than two months after the free depots opened their doors.

Manitobans have dropped off about 330,000 kilograms of old computers, TVs and other e-waste for recycling since mid-May, or about 26 semi-trailer loads full, according to the provincial department that runs the project.

"I think it's just greater convenience, accessibility, awareness and interest in environmental issues in general," said Lindsey Irwin, a program analyst with Green Manitoba.

Irwin said more depots and longer hours are likely reasons for the boost.

The province announced in mid-May at least 10 depots would collect e-waste year-round, half of them in Winnipeg. Another 20 depots around Manitoba would collect the waste until the end of October, some as far north as Flin Flon and Thompson. The depots are listed at www.greenmanitoba.ca.

The program is free for residential customers, with the recycling costs covered by an estimated $1 million from the province. Part of that money will come from a new $10-per-tonne provincial levy on landfills.

Victor Kowall, who works at the Brandon landfill site, said it's easy to see the e-waste increase: "Fifteen per cent wouldn't surprise me."

"The volumes have definitely been increasing," said Adam Chisick, marketing relations head for Urbanmine. The e-waste centre held a collection day with Investors Group before the provincial round-up began -- and vehicles lined up around the block for the event.

"I think those things have definitely helped to make people aware that these programs are available," Chisick said.

E-waste collected in Manitoba is sent for processing to Sims Recycling Solutions in Brampton, Ont., which handles up to 18 million kilograms of e-waste annually.

Canadian general manager Sebastien Rosner said Sims keeps its e-waste out of landfills and makes sure none is shipped overseas, where old electronics are sometimes taken apart under questionable health and environmental conditions in developing countries.

Staff at Sims remove hazardous materials from e-waste. That includes mercury-containing light bulbs in LCD monitors and televisions, and the glass from older CRT computer monitors, which contains hefty amounts of lead.

After the toxic parts are removed, the other materials get shredded into five-centimetre pieces of what Rosner calls "pure commodities." The fragments of plastic, steel, copper, aluminum and other materials are sorted and sent to various processors and smelters.

Rosner said all vendors that receive material from Sims are audited to make sure they follow safe practices. One of the few items that can't be recycled is the laminated wood used in older TVs. Rosner said the glue in the wood is harmful to the environment, so it can't be shredded for landscaping use.

lindsey.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

Map: Depot locations

View E-waste Depots in a larger map

Depot collection begins May 15. Green icons indicate year-round depots; yellow icons show depots open until October.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 6, 2009 A3