Electronic Stewardship Program, Canada's Special Computer Plan | The Communication Blog

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Electronic Stewardship Program, Canada's Special Computer Plan

By Adriana Noton

The Electronic Stewardship Program is Canada's answer to helping keep electronic components and as many things connected with computers, music players or other plug and play type machinery out of their landfills. Through this program, there are approximately 44 products which are eligible for a change from their existing situation to one that would be beneficial to someone and not in the landfill. This organization is in charge of recycling, reusing and refurbishing many of the electrical games, computers or other type appliances that might have filled a space in the ground but is now able to be used where they are needed most.

In order to achieve the perfect balance in getting the electronic and electrical appliances that were headed for the landfill into the right hands, the organization took a two step process and spread it out over one year. The first part of the process rolled out in April of 2009 and the second part of the procedure began in April of 2010. In the first part, all issues of electronics of a certain kind were addressed. These were desktop and laptop computers, notebooks as well, all computer paraphernalia like keyboards and mice, and computer monitors. There were also order regarding printers, television and fax machines. In the second half of the procedure, the organization gathered and set into motion all things smaller electronic such as cell phones, telephones, equalizers, amplifiers, video recorders and radios. These are only partial lists.

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment plan and program or WEEE is where one would find the Waste Diversion Act. This diversion act was created so that as much as possible, the electronic pieces would be sent to places that were not going to dump the electronics into the landfills and make them into usable resources. People in this organization can help other by refurbishing or recycling and reusing computer parts and other electronics so that they are able to give or sell them to those who need them the most. The major part of this organization is to keep the landfills from getting to filled with electronics and to help the environment.

A couple of the leading consumer electronic companies, information technology and consumer electronics equipment companies and retail outlets gathered together to form this non-for-profit organization. In this organization it is the first importer, franchise owners, brand owners and assemblers that each will pay a fee for the electronic and electrical equipment, EEE, issued through Canada. When the fees are received, they are then used by the organization to operate the WEEE's program to continue to help with the recycling and reuse program.

Over the entire Ontario region, there seems to be approximately 91,000 tons of electrical equipment which includes computers and other devices like radios, all available for reuse or recycling. The WEEE program is the first of its kind and before it was established; only about one-quarter was managed properly. This means that electronic equipment was not recycled and it was going into the landfills. There are a few electrical pieces that are not harmful and then there are those electronics that could contain a mixture of lead, mercury and cadmium. If these things are not disposed of properly, they could become a hazard to people and the environment.

Based on the number of electronic and electrical equipment (EEE) a designated program participant supplies, this will determine how much responsibility they will have for the WEEE program. The businesses responsible for 100 percent of the fees are called 'Stewards' and they send these fees to the organization directly. Any company or individual who has an interest in becoming a Steward should fill out an application first and then, once they are contacted, they will finish the application process through an interview and several questions.

When a Steward enters into the program, they are required to send in a special report on a monthly basis. These reports cover the extent at which the EEE is reused, recycled and refurbished back into the community. It is part of the agreement the Stewards sign when they come on board with this type of program. They agree to all the terms and conditions in helping out the organization in keeping these types of items out of landfills and helping the environment in any way they can.

The Electronic Stewardship Program is Canada's special recycling plan to help lower landfill items. It also helps those less fortunate in that they receive these refurbished and recycled items either free or very low cost. This program has proven in it short existence to be a win-win situation for many people: the venders and manufacturers and the community who benefits from their efforts.

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