The Easter long weekend provided many of us with a chance to get outside and begin the annual task known as spring cleaning. From the garage to various areas of the house, to general home maintenance, when the leaves start to bloom we start to organize and find room.
But what about electronics? When the organizing bug hits you sometime after the Vernal Equinox, do you ever think about organizing the mounds of electronics you’ve likely stored up since Christmas? If you do…and you’re looking to responsibly get rid of it all, residents of the Greater Toronto Area may want to consider the following.
The Toronto Green Living Show, which runs from April 12 – 14 has teamed up with Samsung and RBC to create a pair of initiatives that will provide some incentives to help you get rid of unwanted electronic items.
For each piece of e-waste that is brought to and recycled at the Green Living Show, or at one of four participating RBC branches, participants will receive a free ticket ($16 value) to attend the Green Living Show. The RBC branch locations are as follows:
- RBC Aurora – Aurora Heights Plaza (15408 Yonge St, Aurora)
- RBC Pickering- Hwy 2 & Liverpool (1340 Kingston Rd, Pickering)
- RBC Markham- Steeles & Silver Star (4751 Steeles Ave. E, Toronto)
- RBC Woodbridge– Hwy 7 & Marycroft (211 Marycroft Avenue, Woodbridge)
These branches will hold specific e-waste collection drives on March 30, and from April 3rd to 6th.
Photo courtesy of Samsung
Electronic waste (e-waste) is defined as all types of unwanted electronics and electronic equipment and can present special challenges when it comes to end-of-life disposal. E-waste contains a unique combination of hazardous materials as well as valuable materials which can be repurposed.
Perhaps even more exciting is a second initiative that has been set up by Samsung and Green Living Enterprises that challenges elementary schools to collect e-waste for recycling in the hopes of winning a significant prize.
Through the Passion for E-recycling School Challenge, running from April 1 – May 15, 2013, elementary schools within select Ontario school boards can register to host e-waste drives at their schools. The three schools that collect the most e-waste by weight will share in $20,000 in Samsung Hope for Children Smart School grants. The Samsung Hope for Children program was launched globally to bring attention to the worldwide need for childhood education, health, and environmental sustainability.
Photo courtesy of Samsung
Schools may register now for the challenge by visiting www.passionforerecycling.ca for more details. In addition, fun and educational e-waste recycling teaching modules for grades 3-5 level students can be found online as well.
All e-waste collection drives will be managed by GEEP, a leader in the electronic recycling industry. For a complete list of e-waste items that will be accepted at collection sites, please visit www.ontarioelectronicstewardship.ca/program/accepted-electronics
A recent Samsung Canada survey revealed that many Canadians may not know what to do with their old electronics or e-waste; 1 in 3 respondents (35%) say their old electronics are just gathering dust stored in their homes, while 1 in 10 admit to throwing their e-waste into the garbage.
During the 2013 Green Living Show, visitors to the Samsung booth check out a full-scale “recycling crusher” and also see e-waste recycling demonstrations from Samsung’s electronics recycling partner GEEP. Samsung’s Smart School Solution will also be on display for the first time in Ontario, showcasing short e-waste tutorials. The Samsung Smart School Solution is a complete digital education package consisting of Samsung devices and software that lets teachers make lessons more dynamic and interactive.
Now in its 7th year, The Toronto Green Living Show is Canada’s largest consumer show dedicated to all things green. Attendance in 2012 was over 37,000– an approximate increase of 23% compared to the year prior. Visitors to the show visit over 400 “green screened” exhibitors and can stroll through the 80,000 square feet of exhibit space and feature attractions, which includes an exciting array of speakers on the Main Stage.
The Toronto Green Living Show takes place from April 12th to 14th at the Direct Energy Centre on the grounds of the Canadian National Exhibition. For more details and information click here.
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