09 Feb

Now is that time of the year, between the excitement of the holidays and the rush of Spring, that we often find a quiet moment for reflection.  Now, you may not find yourself reflecting on the state of the electronics recycling industry in British Columbia.  But I do.  A lot. Particularly, today I want to help dispel a few myths about electronics recycling in BC and hopefully help divert even more hazardous waste out of our landfills.  Myth: Environmental Handling Fees are just a hidden tax by the government. The fees are actually collected by the industry in accordance with the Electronic Products Recycling Association (EPRA).  The EPRA is a national not-for-profit entity that oversees the recycling of electronics in Canada.  The fees do not go to the government at all, and 100% goes to pay for the administration, collection, transportation, and responsible recycling of electronics. Myth: Recycled electronics simply get shipped overseas...

03:30 / Recycle Me
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17 Jan

[caption id="attachment_496" align="aligncenter" width="300"] 2015 Happy New Year[/caption] “New year’s resolutions.”  Feel that tightening in your gut?  That impending sense of guilt for another year’s resolutions already fading into distant memory?  Okay, so maybe that’s a tad dramatic.  Maybe.  No matter your official view of new year’s resolutions, it’s hard not to yearn for change at the beginning of a new year.  Hard not to think that this will be the year when you finally ______! (fill in the blank)  The problem is that most of us make it way too complicated on ourselves, get overwhelmed, and eventually fall back into our old ways.  Here at Island Return It Recycling Centres we have been helping people realize their resolutions the easy way for 20 years.  That’s right, 2015 marks our 20th anniversary of providing hassle free recycling services to the people of the South Cowichan Valley and beyond! Here’s the trick: simply by recycling...

05:58 / Community / Local / Recycle Me
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19 Nov

Well once again, here we are. The holiday season is upon us. This time of the year means different things to different people. It could be time with family, time off work (oh yeah!), or time to make a fresh start. But one thing is common to all traditions: the most wonderful time of the year can easily become the most wasteful time of the year! Don’t let it happen to you. This year, make a few simple changes to reduce your holiday waste. [caption id="attachment_490" align="alignright" width="231"] Christmas light bulbs (photo credit: Bubbels)[/caption] We all waste food at one time or another, but during the holidays this can increase by obscene amounts. This year, focus on the quality of the food you eat, not the quantity. Treat your loved ones to one decadently expensive box of chocolates instead of mountains of sugary, waxy junk. Make meals together from scratch to reduce the...

04:40 / Recycle Me
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17 Oct

 School’s back in full swing (after a bumpy start), which also means it’s fundraising season again!  Chocolates, anyone?  Cookies?  Magazines?  Entertainment Books?!!   [caption id="attachment_480" align="alignleft" width="271"] Photo credit: Cnunes62[/caption] But what if you’re looking to make some money for your organization and save the planet at the same time?  For this, nothing beats a good old fashioned bottle drive.  Except, in order to make yours successful it might be time to do away with the “old fashioned” and bring your bottle drive into the 21st century!     Here are four steps to help make your bottle drive efficient, profitable, and fun: STEP ONE: ORGANIZE Form a small group of people willing to take initiative and delegate tasks to each person in the group.  For example, have one person in charge of advertising, one person in charge of volunteer recruitment, and someone else in charge of sorting the collected containers.  Choose a leader, having one point of...

01:27 / Community / Local / Recycle Me
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