E-WASTE - A SITE FOR SORE EYES
Our love for computers,
cellphones and the latest in electronic
gadgets is generating a
steady stream of discarded
plastics and toxic substances
that leach out of our landfills. “E-waste” is creating a hazardous
problem that threatens our
air and water.
Most electronic equipment
contains heavy metals such as
lead, cadmium and mercury.
Computer circuit boards and
monitor glass panels, for example,
contain lead. Lead poses
neurobehavioural risks to humans
and wildlife, cadmium can
cause chronic kidney damage,
and mercury causes sensory
and neurological impairments.
Getting rid of e-waste is a
delicate task that has to be performed
by qualified professionals.
The recycling market is
slowly gaining ground, but few
companies can take a computer
and recycle 100% of its
parts.
Alberta is taking the lead: last
year the province began collecting
TVs, computers and other
electronic equipment destined
for landfills and instead reused
and recycled the items by turning
them into new products.
This year, Alberta is collecting
a fee of between $5 and $45
on new electronics purchases to
cover the costs of collection,
recycling and education programs.
With 100 municipal collection
sites, the province has processed
close to 1,000 tonnes of
material since the collection
started.
Here are some steps you can
take to address the problem:
- Reduce – ask yourself, do
you really need to buy this
electronic item?
- Can you upgrade or repair
what you have instead of replacing
it with a new one?
- Donate your old equipment
to a family member, friend or
charity.
- Encourage stores and vendors
to subscribe to a takeback
and recycling program
for the products they sell or
make.
Adapted from the One-Tonne
Bulletin
TREES COUNT CONTINUING
The Trees Count team set their focus on creating an inventory of trees in Gage Park. With its extensive variety of tree species, Gage is technically an arboretum, right here in our city!
The first blitz in July was huge success, and volunteers helped collect 30 pieces of data for each of 100 park trees. A second outing was planned as TreesHamilton went to press.
There’s at least about 700 city and privately-owned trees still to count before the end of the month in the Delta West and North End neighbourhoods.
Dedicated helpers are joining both counts, which now have regular daytime, evening and weekend schedules, but can be adapted if necessary.
You get to learn the different tree species in our city, what to look for that might be jeopardizing a tree, and the information you gather goes into a report that can make a difference in keeping our urban forest healthy.
Bring a hat, plenty to drink – and the family!
Call the Environment Hamilton office (905-549-0900) and leave a message for coordinators Erin (North End) or Margo (Delta West).
Get involved: treescount@environmenthamilton.org
APPRECIATING VOLUNTEERS
Mark Wednesday August 31 on your calendar for a Trees Count public meeting. The guest speaker hasn’t been finalized by press time, but the location will be the Hamilton central library (55 York Boulevard) starting at 7 pm.
The evening will also provide an opportunity to thank the volunteers who have helped with the tree inventories this summer in the North End and Delta West neighbourhoods. Counting has been proceeding since June in both neighbourhoods, and volunteers are still welcome to help out. There are several sessions to choose from every week in each neighbourhood, many of them in the evenings and on weekends. Come out and spend a couple of hours cataloguing the urban forest. You’ll never look at trees the same way again.
