Sask. residents recycle 25K tonnes of electronics
About 400K electronic devices were collected and recycled in 2015, says EPRA Saskatchewan
We all have them laying around our homes – old televisions, computers, monitors, stereo systems – taking up space and collecting dust.
Since the Electronic Products Recycling Association (EPRA) Saskatchewan started in 2007, about 25,000 tonnes of old electronics in the province have been collected and recycled by the not-for-profit organization.
Recent polls indicate that over 80 per cent of us are still hanging on to end-of-life electronics.- Gayleen Creelman, program director of EPRA Saskatchewan
According to Gayleen Creelman, program director of EPRA Saskatchewan, that's more than the weight of 150 Statues of Liberty.
"We're thrilled with the uptake from Saskatchewan residents who have been so enthusiastic about the program," she added.
She said in 2015 alone, about 400,000 devices were collected and recycled.
Benefits for Saskatchewan
When electronics are collected and recycled, Creelman explained it benefits the province in two ways: by keeping more waste out of landfills and it creates a sustainable solution of "urban mining" by reusing and recovering precious metals and elements from the old junk.
For example, she said one tonne of recycled tablets can produce 324 times more gold than one tonne of ore.
And although the province has reached a big milestone already, the organization is busy working towards the next goal of another 25,000 tonnes.
"Recent polls indicate that over 80 per cent of us are still hanging on to end-of-life electronics," she said. "I encourage every Saskatchewan residents to drop-off these items for recycling through EPRA."
To find out more about drop-off locations and recyclable items, click here.