Electronics Pickup

1.    What is the Hard-to-Get Electronics Pilot Project?

This pilot project is a joint effort between the Edson & District Recycling Society and Alberta Recycling, the organization that manages the province’s electronics recycling program.  The purpose of the project is to collect “end-of-life” electronic material that is still out there waiting to be recycled.

Alberta Recycling estimates the program is getting half of the end-of-life computer equipment and TVs that can be recycled.  Much of this could be sitting gathering dust in basements or maybe forgotten in the back storerooms of businesses.  (According to a recent poll conducted by Alberta Recycling, 36% of Albertans said they still had computers and TVs in their home that are no longer working or that they no longer use.  The main reasons for not recycling this material include: they are too busy to take it to a recycling depot; difficulty in removing or transporting the units; access to a recycling depot.)

It is this material that the program has labelled ‘hard-to-get’ electronics.  In addition to collecting hard-to-get electronics from the Edson area, information from the project will help determine the most effective way to collect remaining electronics from throughout Alberta for recycling.

2.    Why can we suddenly recycle products like old microwaves, DVD players or vacuum cleaners when we have been told that we can’t bring this material to the recycling depot? At some point in the future, the government may expand the electronics recycling program to include not just end-of-life computer equipment and TVs but also small kitchen and household appliances, home entertainment products, telecommunications equipment (corded and cordless phones, answering machines) and power tools.  In preparation for this change, Alberta Recycling is doing research by gathering more information on the amount and types of ‘expansion’ material that has reached its end-of-life and can be recycled.  This one-time collection of non-program material from homes and businesses in Edson will help generate the data needed for this research.

3.    What about all other electronics; will I be able to recycle them as well? Yes, in addition to the product categories listed above, for this project only we will be accepting all end-of-life electronics with a plug or that are battery-operated.  The only products we are unable to accept are appliances such as a stove, washer, dryer, refrigerator, freezer or gas-powered equipment such as a lawn mower, snow blower, weed eater, generator, and pressure washer.

4.    How do I get my name/company on the list for pick up? As of August 24, 2015, residents and businesses can call the Town Office at 780-723-4403 from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. to place on the list your name, location and items for pick up.  You will also be able to register your information online at westyellowheadrecycles.ca as of August 24th.

5.    What happens if I tell the Town that I have three products to pick up but I end up with more items to be recycled? The volunteers will do their best to service each call and collect all items even if the items were not initially registered.  However, it is requested that the caller do as thorough a check as possible of their residence or business prior to phoning in so that the Society will have scheduled enough volunteers on hand and vehicles for the project.

6.    Do you know what time the volunteers will stop by to pick up my material?   Volunteers will be working throughout the entire day to try and get all material collected so pick up can take place anytime between 9 am and 5 pm. However, if you need a specific pick up time you can request this when you sign up for your pick up and the volunteers will do their best to accommodate this request. Additionally, when you sign up please note if you need pick up to take place outside of the 9-5 pm pick up range and again, the volunteers will do their best to accommodate this.

7.    I have a TV that I can’t lift and it is in the basement of my home; will the volunteers be allowed into my home to go downstairs and get the TV? Yes, the volunteers will be allowed to enter your home to collect items which you are unable to lift as long as they are able to do so in a safe and reasonable manner. If you do want this type of item to be collected from your basement make sure to make note of this when you sign up for collection so that we can send the right volunteers to your home.

8.    Do I need to be home or can I leave my material outside on my doorstep? If you cannot be home when the volunteers pick up your material, please leave it in front of your residence where it can be clearly seen, marked with an ‘X’ in masking tape or felt pen.  Also ensure it is not placed in a spot that could be a trip hazard for anyone else approaching your property e.g. someone delivering flyers.

9.    I live in an apartment building; will the volunteers come right to my door or can I leave the material out front of my building? The volunteers can go right to your door but this would require you to be home in order to let them into your building.  If you choose to leave your material out front of your building, make sure to get permission from your resident/property manager first, and then please mark down your suite number on the material so the volunteers know they are picking up the right material.  Also, do not leave the material in a place where it could be a trip hazard for anyone entering or leaving your building.

10.    What happens if at the end of this pilot project there are some pickups that remain outstanding? As this is a pilot project there is no guarantee that every caller will have their material collected.  The purpose of this pilot is to determine how much material is out there for recycling but the Society and volunteers are committed to doing the best they can to service all residents.  If a grant program is established by Alberta Recycling’s Board of Directors, the Society would like to run this type of door-to-door collection on an annual basis, possibly each fall.

11.    Why was Edson chosen to run this pilot project? The Edson and District Recycling Society is a long-standing partner with Alberta Recycling as a registered collector in the electronics, paint, and tire recycling programs.  The Society and its manager, Anne Auriat, have a wealth of experience both in the management of recycling programs and in working with volunteers.  Alberta Recycling is confident in their ability to successfully manage this pilot and produce valuable results while ably serving the residents of Edson.

12.    Will this type of home collection happen again? This is a pilot project so the results will be reviewed by Alberta Recycling’s Board of Directors.  If it is determined that this format of door-to-door collection works for a municipality, the Board will look at establishing a grant program that would be available to municipalities.

13.    What happens to the electronics after they have been picked up for recycling? The electronics will be picked up by Recycle-Logic, the electronics recycler registered with Alberta Recycling who provides regular electronics collection for the Edson Recycling Society.  They will safely transport the material to their processing site where they break down the electronics and separate the valuable materials like plastic, glass and precious metals.  This material is then sent to manufactures to be made into new products.

Monday, August 24, 2015   – Joint Media Release                                              

Edson & District Recycling Society Launches Special Collection of End-of-Life Electronics

 The Edson & District Recycling Society (EDRS) is pleased to announce it has received a grant from the Alberta Recycling Management Authority (Alberta Recycling) for a pilot project that will see volunteers from the local high school conduct door-to-door collection of electronics that the owner has designated for recycling.

On September 18, volunteers will be out in the community picking up end-of-life computer equipment, TVs, photocopiers, fax machines and scanners from businesses. Then on September 19^th they will do the same in the residential areas. If your home or office has stored of any of this material and it’s been earmarked for recycling, please call the Town Office at 723-4403 and they will get you on the list for pick up.

These items have been accepted at the Edson Recycling Depot since the start of the provincial electronics recycling program in 2004. However, a recent survey conducted by Alberta Recycling revealed that 36% of those polled have end-of-life computer equipment or TVs sitting at home. The main reason for not taking these items to their local depot is that the individuals are too busy, the items are too heavy or they have no means of transport.

An added bonus to this pilot project is that for these two days only EDRS will also collect ‘ineligible’ electronics; this includes products that are not currently part of the province’s electronics recycling program. Anne Auriat, Manager of the EDRS notes “We have worked hard to educate Edson residents on which electronics are accepted at the Recycling Depot so they will be surprised to learn that for this special project they can recycle any end-of-life electronic item that you can plug-in or that is battery operated! The only exceptions will be large appliances and gas powered equipment.”

Under consideration with the provincial government is expansion of the province’s electronics program in the categories of small kitchen and household appliances, personal appliances, home entertainment units and power tools. Alberta Recycling has been collecting data for a number of years on non-program material and this two-day collection will help build a profile on the amount of material that is out there for recycling.

Bob Barss, Chair of Alberta Recycling, stated that “Our organization is pleased to partner with the Edson & District Recycling Society for this grant project. Since the start of the electronics program Albertans have recycled almost seven million computers & TVs. The Society is providing a unique opportunity for residents and businesses to divert even more electronics from their landfill.”

For a detailed list on the items that will be accepted for recycling on September 18 & 19th, please visit www.edson.ca/residents/recycling-depot For more information on Alberta Recycling visit www.albertarecycling.ca

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Anne Auriat Manager, Edson & District Recycling Society 1-780-723-1603 edsonrecycle@telus.net

Elizabeth Gray Public Information Manager, Alberta 1-888-999-8762 elizabeth.gray@albertarecycling.ca