Canadian Electronics Companies Addressing E-Waste Problems

A number of Canadian consumer electronics and information technology companies have joined together to find an answer to what to do with the end of life of electronics equipment in the country.

To tackle the problem the companies have created Electronics Product Stewardship Canada. The group will work with a host of parties to design, promote and implement sustainable solutions for Canada's electronic waste problem.

"There is a strong movement in the marketplace to behave more responsibly in the disposal of the products consumers acquire and use," said David Betts, president of EPS Canada. "We've already had a generation of experience recycling products such as newspapers and bottles. The electronics and IT industries recognize the need to ensure an equally responsible approach to end-of-life management of the products and tools that we produce."

The founding members of Electronics Product Stewardship Canada include Apple Canada Inc., Brother International Corporation (Canada) Ltd., Canon Canada Inc., Dell Canada, Epson Canada Ltd., Hewlett-Packard (Canada) Co., Hitachi Canada Ltd., IBM Canada Ltd., Lexmark Canada Inc., LG Electronics Canada, Panasonic Canada Inc., Sanyo Canada Inc., Sharp Electronics of Canada Ltd., Sony of Canada Ltd., Thomson Multimedia Ltd. and Toshiba of Canada Ltd.

Electronics Product Stewardship Canada has been created through the joint efforts of the Information Technology Association of Canada and Electro-Federation Canada.

EPSC has already begun operations. It is currently consulting with governments, consumers and other groups in Canada to design appropriate programs for the safe reuse and recycling of equipment such as personal computers, laptops, printers and television products. The group expects to launch its first end-of-life management program next year.