22 Jul

We like to keep things light and fun here at Island Return It, giving you tips and tricks for recycling with ease. We love all things recycling, and want to share our passion with you for the good of our planet.  Today however, we'd like to look at why we do what we do, and explore some of the benefits of recycling including some of the consequences of taking the earth for granted. Don’t worry, I promise this will still be light and fun...

04:14 / Recycle Me
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19 Mar

As part of our electronic waste recycling program we collect old TVs, along with computers, stereos, video equipment, [caption id="" align="alignright" width="320"] Old broken TV (Photo credit: schmilblick)[/caption] and many other electronics. When TVs arrive at our depots we have a special procedure we take when receiving and preparing them to be sent to processing plants in the B.C. interior because believe it or not, TVs are toxic. Despite international laws designed to prevent this, many developed countries send e-waste overseas to Asia and Africa. Inspections of 18 European seaports in 2005 found as much as 47 % of waste destined for export, including e-waste, was illegal. It is important that you know that when you recycle your electronic waste at Island Return It, we never send product overseas for dismantling. We use only approved facilities in North America. Older TVs Present a Special Challenge In particular, older TVs with CRTs (cathode ray tubes) need to be handled...

06:15 / Community / Recycle Me
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06 Dec

A quick internet search will reveal that there are no shortage of “green gift” guides out there. Some of which have some pretty great ideas, and some of which leave a little to be desired. Wading through all of the trendy suggestions can make your head spin. May we suggest keeping it simple this year? And we’re not talking Martha Stewart-esque simple-but-not-actually-simple DIY mega projects either. Just simple, and kind to the planet. Though it sounds cliche these days, time is still one of the most appreciated gifts that you can give someone.  Take a friend out for coffee.  Build an epic blanket fort for your niece or nephew. Invite a bunch of friends over for a holiday movie night. It doesn’t have to be over the top to bring joy to those you love. Similarly, buying an experience for someone instead of an unnecessary gadget, can go a long way towards lessening...

02:25 / blog
2 Likes
17 Oct

    “Did You Know?” Everyday we learn something new and today it's all about recycling.   Did you know that glass can be recycled almost indefinitely without losing its quality? Did you know that 5% of all aluminum produced since 1888 is still in use today? Bet you didn’t know that.  Here are some more recycling facts. Did you know that juice boxes can be recycled into toilet paper? Did you know that car batteries are the world’s most recycled product? Did you know that glass bottles can be crushed and used as aggregate for roads? We’re just warming up here...

18:48 / Uncategorized
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29 Feb

Spring has sprung and if you haven’t already, now’s the time to get going on your spring cleaning. There’s something refreshing about cleaning out our stale, cluttered living spaces, after a long winter stuck indoors. Whether you’re the type that jumps for joy at the thought of spring cleaning, or lazily approaches the task like a bear waking up from hibernation, we’ve got a few tips to help you clean with ease and keep your efforts green. One room at a time: This one's pretty self-explanatory. It’s easy to come in guns a blazing, feeling that you can take on the whole of your cluttered house in one fell swoop. Resist the urge. This initial burst of motivation can quickly give way to despair once the true size of the task is realized. Instead, just do it one room at a time. That way, you can make real progress without...

20:27 / blog
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