Did you know that more than 140,000 tonnes of electronic equipment accumulate in Canadian landfills each year, and that is expected to triple by 2010.

At one time or another, most of us have relegated an old computer, mobile phone, VCR, computer mouse or other electronic item to a basement or attic, in favour of a newer, faster model. And when it comes time to get the old stuff out of the house, some simply put it out by the curb on garbage day.

As a result, electronics have become the fastest-growing and potentially most hazardous component of municipal waste. Governments are increasingly looking at ways in which end-of-life electronics can be safely and cost-effectively diverted from municipal landfills.

What can you do?
In most cases, you have two choices: Reuse or recycle. Reusing electronic hardware is a no-brainer – it can be sold in yard sales or donated to charity. But, while giving away your old PC may be a nice thing to do in the short term, it doesn’t solve the problem of how to dispose of the equipment when it is no longer needed. Ultimately, you need to think about what will happen to the product at the end of its life.

The most environmentally responsible way to dispose of end-of-life electronics is to recycle them. But first, do your homework. Environmental watchdogs have reported for years that as much as 50 to 80 per cent of North American end-of-life electronics are being sent to recycling centres in parts of Asia, where any valuable pieces are reclaimed and the rest is discarded, polluting water, air and land.

You will want to make sure your computer is going to a recycling plant that will dismantle and recycle the entire item in a way that minimizes risks to health and the environment.

Here’s how you can make a difference. Ask the following questions before choosing the recycler for your unwanted electronic and computer products:

• What do you do with products collected?
• What happens to the material once you dismantle or shred the products that you collect?
• How do you determine who you send the separated products to after your process?
• Do you audit or inspect those places where you send products/materials?
• Do you sell any of the material that you collect?
• If you resell the equipment, do I need to be concerned about the data on the product?
• How are your employees treated?
• What kind of environmental protections has your company put in place to make sure the facility is safe?
• What percent of material that you collect is landfilled?
• What is the process for separating products you collect?
• How much of what you collect is actually processed and not resold?
• Is your process mechanical or manual?
• How much do you charge to take material?

For more information on HP reuse and recycling programs, visit www.hp.ca/canada/recycle.