Has your family ever replaced an old computer or printer with a new one, or bought a new television or refrigerator? Has anybody you know ever stopped using an old cell phone after getting a new one? Across our province and our country, hundreds of thousands of computers, monitors, televisions, and cell phones are replaced every year. This electronic waste, or e-waste, can be dangerous to people and the environment if it is not looked after properly. It also contains valuable materials that can be reused if the e-waste isn’t sent to the landfill.

Once a machine that runs on electricity is thrown away, it becomes e-waste.¹ Some examples are: computer equipment, televisions and DVD players, stereo equipment, photocopiers, fax machines, cell phones, video games, refrigerators and microwaves. This problem has been around since we started using electricity in the last century, but it has become a much bigger problem recently because more people in Manitoba and the rest of the world are buying more appliances. Cellular phones and computers are causing the biggest problem because they are replaced most often.²

Like much of what we in Canada throw away, e-waste should be thought of a resource, or something that is still valuable. Useful materials such as glass, copper, aluminium, plastic and other components can often be taken from the old item and reused. But electronics and batteries also contain nasty substances that are harmful if they end up in a landfill. The acids, metals and chemicals in e-waste can escape from the landfill and end up polluting our water, soil, or air.

If your family owns a computer, or television, or any other machine that runs on electricity, it is important that you and your family members know about e-waste. You can talk to your family about the importance of bringing your old equipment to the right place when you are finished with it. Here in Manitoba, the government organizes e-waste collection times during the year. You can get more information at this website: http://www.greenmanitoba.ca/cim/1001.dhtm.

You can also reduce e-waste by talking to your family about whether or not you really need a new device. If your family does decide it needs a new machine, you can help them choose to buy from a company that makes less harmful products. One place to look for this information is at this website: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/toxics/electronics/how-the-companies-line-up.