Electronics Recycling Program Being Launched in BC

The Electronics Stewardship Association of British Columbia will begin a drop-off collection program for electronics throughout the province on Aug.1. The program will be available for both residents and businesses in British Columbia.

Authorized collection sites will be identified by a Return-It Electronics symbol. The locations also can be found at the Web site www.electronicsrecyclingbc.ca. The program will be managed by Encorp Pacific.

ESABC is a not-for-profit corporation established by manufacturers, retailers, and others in response to the British Columbia Recycling Regulation amendment of February 2006. Approved by the B.C. Ministry of Environment in December 2006, the ESABC plan is the only waste electronics product management program which, to date, has been approved by the BC Government.

"We believe this is an important initiative for the environment and are committed to helping collect these products and ensuring they are recycled in a safe and responsible manner," says Sean De Vries, chairman of ESABC and environmental manager, Panasonic Canada. "With our Encorp partnership and their existing infrastructure of depots and proven capabilities in managing BC's beverage recycling program, we are well-positioned to administer the new program."

Consumers, producers and retailers of new electronics products - not taxpayers - will carry the cost of the program. As of the August 1 launch date, an environmental handling fee levied on the sale of new products in the designated categories will be used to fund the program.

Environmental handling fees on new products are the following: Televisions $15-$45 (depending on size); Desktop Computers $10 (including accessories); Desktop Printers $8; Notebook computers $5; and Monitors $12