Help us keep this page up to date. Email us at resources@ctarcorp.com with your resources on e-waste and end-of-life equipment management.
E-waste is a short form for “electronic waste”. The term is broad and can be used in different ways. Generally it refers to electronics which are no longer needed as they have reached their end-of-life in its current role. This could be because they are obsolete and/or broken.
Another term for e-waste is WEEE. This stands for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment.
Electronics contain a number of toxins such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs).
If electronics are thrown into the garbage, these toxins can end up in our soil and water systems. These toxins have been linked to causing cancers, impairing cognitive development, and damaging reproductive systems. Yet the effects could be more widespread that anticipated; for example, PBDEs have been found in beluga whales in the Arctic Ocean.5
In response, Restriction of Harmful Substances (RoHS) initiatives and legislation set limits on the use of toxins in equipment. More information is below under General Resources.
Trafficking of e-waste also remains a significant problem. Despite being banned in 1994, the shipping of e-waste to countries with more lax environmental and workplace standards still occurs. Guiya, China, is a major e-waste processing centre and has the highest levels of cancer-causing dioxins in the world.6 The Basel Action Network (www.ban.org) continues to advocate for the end of the toxic trade and prevent the globalization of the toxic chemical crisis.
Because of the toxicity of electronics, the most important thing is that e-waste stays out of the landfills. The 3R's - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - apply to electronics as well.
Reduce - manufacturers are reducing the toxins in e-waste. As a consumer, can you reduce the amount of electronics ending up in the garbage?
Reuse - can your electronics be used again? If broken, can they be repaired or refurbished?
Recycling - if no further reuse is possible, the next step is to recycle the electronics responsibly. Can you find a location to have it recycled?
For reuse and recycling tips, see below under Resources for Business and Resources for Individuals.
Related federal legislation is:
Waste diversion programs are facilitated by the provinces and territories. Below is information on the program in Ontario. Stay tuned for other provinces and territories.
Ontario
In June 2002, the Province of Ontario passed the Waste Diversion Act, 2002 (WDA). The purpose of the Act is to promote the reduction, reuse and recycling of waste and to provide for the development, implementation and operation of waste diversion programs. In accordance with the WDA, Waste Diversion Ontario (WDO) was created and is responsible for all waste diversion programs for designated wastes.
The WDO then created Ontario Electronic Stewardship (OES) to specifically implement the e-waste program. For more information, please visit www.ontarioelectronicstewardship.ca
Standards are voluntary measures (unless referenced in legislation) that aim to achieve an optimum degree of order in a given context.
In Canada, these standards are coordinated by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC). The SCC also represents Canada's international interest as a member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Similarly, the SCC facilitates the Canadian National Committee of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), which handles all standards relating to electronics.
Whether done in-house or outsourced to a company like CTAR, resource management for your e-waste is of vital importance to your organization and community.
If your electronics can be reused, look into donating it to an organization which needs it (remember to check with the organization first!). Some examples include:
Another option is to post it on a classified site. Free ones include:
Generally, businesses are not eligible for free municipal e-waste programs. However, there are an increasing number of recyclers who can properly recycle your e-waste. Try consulting the Yellow Pages or the Internet.
To find a responsible recycler, here are some suggested questions:
Has your e-waste really reached its end-of-life?
If your electronics can be reused, look into donating it to an organization which needs it (remember to check with the organization first!). Some examples include:
Another option is to post it on a classified site. Free ones include:
If your electronics cannot be reused, recycling is the next option. Most municipalities have depots where you can drop off your e-waste free of charge. Check out the website of your municipality, or click below for some of Canada's largest cities and regions.