By Monica Priebe, May 12, 2009
Editor's Pick
Recycling for each of us is a matter of choice. Remember the recycling mantra reduce, reuse, recycle? Today, North America has one of the highest rates of recycling in the world; yet if we consider the amount of trash that ends up in our dumpsites, you would be amazed at this vastly untapped opportunities for us - there are still a number of opportunities to turn unwanted or unneeded material into good use.
Today’s ethical consumer has the ability to create change. To live a green life can be easy; doing what you can, when you can; with a little instruction and inspiration. In Vancouver Epic Exposition took place over the weekend; a solutions-based event, celebrating green living, inspirational people and environmentally innovative companies and products. Epic annually attracts a diverse range of companies who focus on environmental and social sustainability while featuring the latest eco trends in home, fashion, food, energy and more.
One vendor, the Electronic Recycling Association, has a vision to foster a better community by reducing electronic waste and enabling the non-profit sector to achieve excellence by providing for its IT needs through the donation of unused computers and laptops. Joanna Trebon from the ERA makes it clear that they “are in full support of recycling but not for consumers to go directly to the recycling plant or depot,” rather consumers “should follow the recycling stream and use a service like the ERA to help charities and individuals in need of their electronics.” The items get refurbished and donated to local charities and other non-profit organizations that simply do not have the budget to purchase their own equipment.
Given the current global economic crisis affecting businesses, the ERA has received 40% more requests this year than in any year previously. Not only are the charities in greater need of equipment during this difficult time; a marked decrease in supply from our contributors is also apparent. Additionally, with a higher level of unemployment than in previous years, we are still in desperate need of volunteers in our three principal locations of Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. For those individuals who are currently unfortunate to be unemployed, volunteering for the ERA is an excellent opportunity to gain significant experience in a warehouse, office or technical environment. In fact, Joanna encourages a program called “volunteer to earn” in which individuals give their time in various roles in order to earn a new computer. The volunteers will even be taught how to use the computers upon completion and earning of a new machine. She believes this type of experience and commitment to the community would go a long way to getting individuals back into the workforce.
Baring this in mind, it is absolutely paramount that we contribute to recycling as an investment in our economy and our environment; a critical step in protecting end-of-life resources by giving prematurely recycled equipment another life, from one business to the next.
At its core recycling is a process. Reducing waste means not only to decrease the amount of waste that goes into landfills but to reduce our consumerist spending. To reuse is to extend or reinvent the use of items from our home or workplace for the same or other purposes as a donation to those in need. A final or initial stage depending on where you are in the process is to be mindful of the products we are purchasing and the materials they are made from.
Recycling is a way of life. Organizations like the ERA make it easy and accessible for individuals to implement strategies for recycling. Once we have made that choice to implement all the steps of recycling in our daily lives, recycling becomes second nature to us. Every small contribution to the ‘go green’ movement adds up to how our present society eventually shapes our nation’s and the Earth’s future. How will you go green?
For more information on the Electronic Recycling Association please visit their website at www.era.ca. Donations or Volunteers for Calgary, Edmonton or Vancouver can connect on the website or toll-free: 1-877-9-EWASTE. For further inquiries Joanna Trebon can be reached at Joanna@era.ca.
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