Farmers' market introduces the 'Think Recycle' program

North Bay Downtown Farmers' Market
News Release

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It's a time-honoured tradition with a twist. Along with the usual fundraising activities at the Farmers' Market, there is a new and profitable way to make money that benefits the environment as well. The North Bay Downtown Farmers' Market is tacking the growing problem of electronic waste and literally turning into cash.

We are participating in the Think Recycle program, which gathers old print cartridges and cell phones in the community and exchanging 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 Alexis Carlsen from the North Bay Downtown Farmers' Market. "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 every year, 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. More than 20 000 schools in North America participated in the Think Recycle program, says Tony Perrotta, President of Greentec.

In addition to giving money for these used printer cartridges and cell phones, Greentec also donates one tree to either the Tree Canada, or American Forests for every 24 qualifying cell phones or cartridges that the North Bay Downtown Farmers' Market returns. The Think Recycle program has paid for 50 000 tress, effectively removing 8700 tones of carbon from the atmosphere.

"With Think Recycle, not only are you helping the North Bay Downtown Farmers' Market raise money for a permanent location but you get to directly protect the environment and do a good thing," says Alexis Carlsen, Market Manager/Research Intern.

The public can drop off old cell phones or printer cartridges at The North Bay Downtown Farmers' Market located at 200 McIntyre Street, in the parking lot across from City Hall, every Saturday from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm rain or shine.

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