We love sharing about like-minded organizations that are working to address the environmental impacts of waste with an innovative approach. In today’s blog, Green Coast Rubbish is delighted to introduce the Electronic Recycling Association (ERA) – a non profit that is doing amazing work to reduce e-waste while bettering the community with their computer donation and recycling program.
Are you busy cleaning out your garage? Do you need to recycle old bicycles and broken Christmas lights? Do you have a stash of old paint cans, electronics or power tools that you’ve been putting off dealing with? If you need help to get started with cleaning up and decluttering, read on to find out about some great Metro Vancouver recycling resources!
Metro Vancouver Transfer Stations & Vancouver Landfill
All kinds of recyclables are accepted in the recycling section of Metro Vancouver’s Transfer Stations – located in Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, Surrey, North Vancouver, Vancouver, and Aldergrove. These are very convenient recycling resources that you can rely on. We love the free one-stop location to recycle everything from basics like cardboard, light bulbs and plastics to hard-to-recycle items like paint, pesticides, propane tanks and small appliances.
Zero Waste Centre in Vancouver
Another one of the best recycling resources is the Zero West Centre in Vancouver. Visit the new Zero Waste Centre at the Vancouver South Transfer Station to drop off a wide variety of recyclables for free. Everything from electronics to batteries to bikes and large appliances can be recycled here. This centre is a gem for all your recycling needs.
Sell or Donate your old stuff
Selling or donating your reusable items is a great way to get rid of your old stuff. These are some of our favourite places to do that:
Metro Vancouver Recycles
Residents and businesses can visit the Metro Vancouver Recycles web page to find places to donate or recycle just about anything. You will be asked to select the material you wish to recycle or dispose of and provide your location information to get a list of suitable recycling options.
Call us at Green Coast Rubbish
If you still don’t know what to do with your old stuff, give us a call at Green Coast Rubbish. We take great pride in being Vancouver’s environmentally conscious waste removal company and we donate or recycle at least 75% of the materials we pick up, with much of it being donated to charity. Get in touch by emailing pickup@www.greencoastrubbish.com or by calling 604 230 4530.
If you are in a relationship or just want to pamper a loved one, February 14 is the day to make your funny Valentine smile with their heart. No matter what you do or where you go for Valentine’s Day, you can make it special while keeping it green by remembering a few recycling no nos.
What to do: Treat your loved one to a selection of hand dipped chocolate covered strawberries.
Recycling no no: Don’t forget to compost any leftovers and the strawberry stems.
Where to go: Take her out for a surprise Valentine’s overnight getaway at a fancy hotel or resort.
Recycling no no: Skip the hotel water bottles and drink out of the tap.
What to do: Plan and cook your sweetheart a romantic meal.
Recycling no no: Food scraps don’t go in the garbage. All organics should be composted or recycled in your yard or garden bin.
What to do: Set a romantic mood with music, candles and a glass of wine.
Recycling no no: Cork the bottle if you don’t finish drinking all the wine and save it for another day. Don’t toss the bottles; these can be returned for change at your local Return It Depot.
Where to go: If cooking isn’t your thing, do book a reservation at her favourite restaurant.
Recycling no no: Don’t leave your doggie bag in the car when you get home. That’s a total waste of good breakfast food not to mention the unnecessary use of packaging.
What to do: If your sweetie specifically asks for a new Kobo or smart watch for Valentine’s Day, then knock yourself out but skip the coffee bean grinder unless you want to see her grinding her teeth.
Recycling no no: Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you’ll know that all electronics may be dropped off at an appropriate facility for recycling.
What to do: Flowers will melt your loved one’s heart – roses, mixed bouquets or potted orchids may be just the ticket.
Recycling no no: Skip the dyed blue roses and remember to compost the wilted remnants in a week or two.
What to do: Remember! Valentine’s Day is February 14.
Recycling no no: Mark it on your calendar or you’ll be recycling excuses for years to come.
Hoarding is a compulsive behavior that can cause people to collect excessive amounts of items, animals, or garbage in their homes, and feel unwilling or incapable of getting rid of them. It’s an extremely complex issue that can have many negative psychological, health, and safety implications-to the individuals within the space, as well as building owners and surrounding neighbors.
Here are just a few examples of the types of situations we’ve seen:
Besides having the potential to cause tens of thousands of dollars in property damage, hoarding can also pose threatening health and safety risks, and the accumulation of garbage can lead to infestations of vermin and insects.
There are hundreds of instances of hoarding throughout the Lower Mainland every year. In extreme cases, some properties have caught fire, or had permanent structural damage to buildings. The issue has gotten so serious that the City of Vancouver has set up a Hoarding Action Response Team to help address the issues, in areas such as the Downtown Eastside.
For property owners and building managers, dealing with the aftermath of tenant hoarders can feel like a nightmare. At Green Coast Rubbish, we’ve had extensive hands-on experience tackling these types of situations. We alleviate the stress by helping clients and their families sort, remove, and dispose of any and all unwanted items — and ensure that everything is diverted or recycled through the proper channels. For more information about our range of services, please feel free to contact us.
We live in a pretty amazing time. It seems every week, an announcement for some new technology changes the face of televisions, computers, or cell phones. Electronics are getting smaller (or in the case of TV’s, BIGGER), faster, and more equipped to handle all the tasks in our busy lives. But it comes at a cost. With a built-in obsolesce period for most gadgets being less than 2 years, people are finding themselves with basements and attics full of old TVs, printers, and VCR’s (remember those?). It all adds up to a huge amount of waste here in Canada each year.
It seems that many people are just unsure of what to do with it all. This fascinating (and somewhat alarming) StatsCan website shows the percentage of Canadians who have unwanted electronics in their households… in British Columbia, up to 31% of homes have unused televisions in their homes! Just wander down any alley in the Vancouver, and it’s likely that you’ll see abandoned electronics left beside dumpsters. Unfortunately, if they are not properly disposed of, these devices can get thrown into landfills, or sent to developing countries where they are dismantled for metal or parts; oftentimes without safety equipment. If handled improperly, the individuals doing it can be exposed to dangerous substances such as mercury, lead, and chromium—all known to be extremely toxic to humans, animals, and the environment.
We can help. Whether it’s a massive TV, old CRT monitor, or burnt out computer tower; whatever you have, we can take care of it for you. Quickly, easily and in the most environmentally conscious way possible. In 2012 alone, Green Coast Rubbish recycled 5.1 tonnes of electronics, and nearly 3 tonnes of TV’s. (Which, for those who are curious, equals roughly the same weight as an African Elephant).
After pickup, we work together with Encorp, a federally incorporated, not-for-profit association who is committed to recycling within our communities. They ensure that e-waste is properly processed, with all usable components diverted, and any remaining parts disposed of in safe and ethical ways.
You have a lot on your mind. Having these items collecting dust in your home creates both physical and mental clutter in your life. With a single call, we can handle it, and you can get back to focusing on what’s most important.
Are you unsure of how to properly dispose of your obsolete and unwanted electronics? According to a December 2012 survey conducted by Samsung, many Canadians are! In fact, 1 in 10 respondents admitted to throwing their old electronics into the garbage, while 1 in 3 suggested that their old electronics are just collecting dust in their homes.
Recycling of your electronics should not be a challenge or a burden when you consider the excellent regional recycling programs and facilities we have in place. We at Green Coast Rubbish want to make sure you do the right thing with your e-waste, so we have come up with a resource list of FREE locations and programs where you can recycle your electronics responsibly in Metro Vancouver.
The Electronic Recycling Association (ERA) is a non-profit organization founded in 2004 to address the growing problem of e-waste and the increasing ‘digital divide’. ERA offers simple solutions to help individuals and organizations prevent operational equipment from premature destruction. With a focus on recovery, refurbishment, and reuse, ERA continuously supplies charitable groups with donated IT equipment while securely managing the retiring IT assets of organizations and individuals across Canada. Learn more about their organization here.
Encorp Pacific’s Return-It Depots have a fantastic end-of-life electronics recycling program available to all consumers in British Columbia. The Return-It depots are located across the Lower Mainland of BC. Basically, anything with a plug or a battery can be recycled through this program. Find the nearest Return-It depot.
Free Geek is another great option for recycling your electronics in Vancouver. They operate as a nonprofit organization that not only recycles, but reuses the donated electronics. Check out their website for details on acceptable electronics and store location.
London Drugs also provides a free end-of-life electronics recycling program for items that have been purchased at their stores. Customers can drop off items for recycling at any store location. Follow these links for a list of eligible materials and for the location nearest you.
If you didn’t know, the Salvation Army has been a working partner of Encorp’s Electronics Return-It program since 2007, and they will also take your electronics for recycling. Additionally, if your items still have some life left in them, the Salvation Army will happily accept them for donation. For the nearest drop off location.
Think Recycle is a cost-free environmental fundraising program that refiberishes, recycles, and resuses donated electronics. Green Coast Rubbish has partnered with the e-waste organization since 2011. All funds generated through Green Coast’s collection of appropriate e-waste are donated to the David Suzuki Foundation. Check out our past blog about the partnership. Visit Think Recycle’s site to learn more about their program and how to get involved.
Anyway you look at it your old electronics contain hazardous materials that are harmful to our environment, and as such, they must be recycled responsibly! If you are in need of assistance or advice with recycling your electronics from your home, organization or place of work call us today for a free and friendly quote. Happy recycling!
