North Bay EAC protects the environment while raising money

North Bay Environmental Action Committee
News Release

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It’s a time-honoured tradition with a twist. Along with the usual fundraising activities, there is a new and profitable way to make money that benefits the environment as well. The North Bay Environmental Action Committee (EAC) is tackling the growing problem of electronic waste and literally turning it into cash.

The EAC is participating in the Think Recycle program, which gathers old print cartridges and cell phones in the community and exchanges them for money. Greentec, the company behind Think Recycle, then collects processes and recycles the cartridges and cell phones, diverting the electronic waste from local landfill sites. “Our usual fundraising activities are great, but the Think Recycle program directly protects the environment, “says Kristina Vardy. “This way we can stop filling up our landfills with electronic waste and fundraise at the same time.”

Over 300 million empty printer cartridges are generated in North America every year, or 900,000,000 pounds of waste that can potentially end up in a landfill. The Think Recycle program has been responsible for the diversion of more than one million cartridges from landfills and has provided nearly $3 million in funding to its participants.

In addition to giving money for these used printer cartridges and cell phones, Greentec also donates one tree to either Tree Canada, or American Forests for every 24 qualifying cell phones or cartridges that the EAC returns. The Think Recycle program has paid for the planting of more than 50,000 trees, effectively removing 8700 tons of carbon from the atmosphere. “With Think Recycle, not only are you helping the EAC raise money for the 3rd annual Can Change Festival, but you get to directly protect the environment and do a good thing,” says Kristina.

The public can drop off old cell phones or printer cartridges or mail them in to Think Recycle on behalf of the EAC. To arrange for a pickup, drop-off, or if you have any questions, please contact Kristina at [email protected].

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