What To Do with Unwanted Electronics?

If you live in Ontario, the WEEE program is the answer to that problem. This program is setting up collection points across the province where you can drop off designated electronic equipment and know it will either be reused, recycled or disposed of in an environmentally responsible way. At the moment, the program includes:
*desktop and laptop computers
*keyboards, mice and other peripherals
*monitors
*desktop printers
*disk drives
*fax machines
*TV's
Started up in April, 2009, the program is funded by fees paid by brand owners, first importers, and assemblers of electronic equipment. The program keeps old electronics out of landfills, as well as tackling the issue of consumer education. If you want to know more about how to rid of yourself of unwanted electronic products in an environmentally responsible manner, click here to visit the website dowhatyoucan.ca. Once you're there, you'll find you can also get the info you need about what to do with household hazardous waste, or "special"waste like unused paint. You can search for you nearest collection site by municipality, postal code or material type.
The site also includes a great list of teacher resources for individual instructors or whole schools who want to go green. There's E-Zone for elementary students and Obviously.ca for secondary level students, as well Green Teacher Magazine. The EcoKids Program is a free, environmental education program that offers curriculum-linked materials and activities specifically for Canadian schools. It doesn't get much better than free! School may be winding down for the summer break now, but spending a little time here during July and August could help a teacher go back in the fall ready to turn their whole school green
The industry organization, Ontario Electronic Stewardship is the group responsible for the launch of WEEE. They're doing what they can to make it easier for us. Now, it's our turn to step up to the plate.