You can properly dispose of unwanted electronics at a recycling event marking Waste Reduction Week, Oct. 16 to 22.
The drive-thru and drop-off-style event takes place Saturday, Oct. 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Robert N. Shelton Operations Centre at 1275 Maple Hill Court. New this year, the town will also be accepting household paint and light bulbs, as well as used household batteries.
The Town of Newmarket is urging residents to take steps to reduce, reuse, recycle and make environmentally friendly choices to combat issues such as climate change, water pollution and the preservation of natural resources.
Tips to reduce waste include:
- Remember to bring reusable bags when shopping. Keep a few reusable bags in the trunk of your vehicle or right by the door so they are always available.
- Plan your meals ahead and shop with a grocery list. Planning your meals for the week and only buying groceries that you know you will eat will help reduce food waste (and save money, too).
- Try making DIY cleaning products and beauty supplies, which helps reduce the need for purchasing packaged products and reduces the amount of toxins released into our environment.
- Consider buying used instead of new or try repairing before replacing.
- Buy in bulk, which can be better for your wallet and also helps reduce waste.
- Recycle old and/or unwanted electronics such as computers monitors, laptops, mobile devices at a local electronics recycling event or drop them off at a York Region Waste Depot.
- Use refillable or reusable food containers. Avoid using disposable or non-recyclable food containers.
“Each year, Waste Reduction Week reminds us to take even more steps to reduce our carbon footprint and the impact we have on the environment,” Mayor John Taylor said in a news release. “We’ve been doing great so far, with a 66 per cent diversion rate as a region, but there is always more that can be done to ensure an even more sustainable Newmarket. I encourage everyone to take your unwanted electronics to the E-waste+ and Recycling event to ensure these items can be properly disposed and kept out of landfills.”
Accepted items at the electronics+ recycling event include:
- Computers
- Printers (desktop and floor standing)
- Display devices
- Printer cartridges
- Video gaming devices
- Telephones, including cellular phones
- Headphones
- Speakers
- Cameras, including security cameras
- Video recorders
- Aerosol paints
- Musical instruments
- Audio recording equipment
- Parts of information technology, telecommunications and audio-visual equipment sold separately, such as hard drives
- Wood-finishing oils
- Anti-rust paint
- Wood, masonry, driveway sealer, and water repellent (including tar based or bitumen based)
- Fluorescent tubes (straight, curved, U, circular, square, etc.)
- Peripherals and cables used to support the function of information technology, telecommunications and audio-visual equipment, including charging equipment
- Wood preservatives (unless registered under Pest Control Products Act)
- Incandescent and halogen bulbs
- Compact fluorescent lights
