Electronic Waste Recycling Endorsed

Environment Committee researched program before endorsing.

At the beginning of June, the provincial government announced the establishment of temporary e-waste sites around Manitoba. The project, administered by the Department of Conservation and the Department of Science, Technology, Energy and Mines, targets electronic waste including TVs, VCRs, stereos, microwaves, phones, cell phones, computer equipment, laptops, printers, scanners, fax machines, copiers and rechargeable batteries.

The Manitoba E-waste Round-up 2007 sites that have been established in Winnipeg and a number of other Manitoba locations are temporary. Other collection depots and something more long term is planned for later this year.

Before committing to endorsing the initiative, the MFL's environment committee decided to ensure that the materials collected through these depots will in fact be properly recycled. Art Crane, vice-chair of the committee, posed the question to Green Manitoba, the agency of the Manitoba Government that has been put in charge of operating the electronics recycling program.

The response from the government agency was that 100 per cent of all material collected will be processed by Noranda/Sims Recycling in Brampton Ontario. They also guaranteed that all recycling will take place in North America. As this builds on the NDP plan to protect and conserve the environment, the MFL Environment committee has fully endorsed this inititive.

In a government issued news release, Minister Stan Struthers is quoted as saying, "Recycling is an everyday role that Manitobans take seriously in making a difference."

The MFL believes that is a sentiment shared by Manitoba workers, both at home and in their workplaces. The Environment Committee encourages workers and their families to take electronic materials to the collection depot located in their area. A list of where these depots are located can be found on the Green Manitoba Web site.

The hours of operation vary from depot to depot, so be sure to check that information, also found on the Green Manitoba web site, before heading down to a depot. More collection depots will be added from time to time. If there's no depot near where you live now, be sure to check back later in the year to see if a depot has opened in your area.