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Yvonne Ho endorsed 2014-05-22 15:38:02 -0400TD had a e-waste collection day last summer, my family brought our old laptops and tv there to be recycled
Challenge 10 - Send your Electronics to a Better Place
Send your Electronics to a Better Place
Electronic waste, or e-waste, is a growing problem in Canada. It includes computers, cell phones (and their cables and batteries), TVs, printers, stereos and speakers. The heavy metals, flame retardants and rare minerals in e-waste can be extremely harmful to the environment and human health. Some estimate that e-waste only makes up 4% of the waste stream, but it accounts for 70% of the toxic pollution in our landfills.
The best thing is to keep e-waste out of landfill. Repair your old electronics if you can still use them, or donate or sell them to someone who can use them. But if it’s definitely not fix-able, send your e-waste to be safely recycled by the City.
Challenge:
- Repair, reuse or recycle your old electronics. Upload a photo in the comments below and tell us about it!
How to recycle your e-waste
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If you live in a house, just set out your e-waste on garbage day. Use the green bag delivered with your waste calendar, or put the waste in a box by the curb (best to put out a number of things at once).
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If you live in an apartment or condo, talk with your building manager about getting an e-waste collection spot for the whole building. When it's full, they just call the City for collection.
- You can drop off e-waste (and other special waste) at Community Environment Days held across Toronto in the spring, summer and fall. Community Environment Days are held in each ward, ensuring that residents in all parts of the City have a nearby location to safely handle waste. Find out when your local event is on the City website.
Did you recycle or reuse your old electroncis? Send us a photo and tell us about it below!
Endorse
- Repair, reuse or recycle your old electronics. Upload a photo in the comments below and tell us about it!
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Yvonne Ho endorsed 2014-05-22 15:36:12 -0400I keep my old batteries and bring them to the speacial bins for battery recycling in school
Challenge 9 - Tackle Toxic Trash
Tackle Toxic Trash
Certain types of waste can't go in the garbage or recycling bin because they contain toxic ingredients that can harm the environment or human health. This type of special waste needs to be sorted and sent to the right place so it can be recycled properly.
Special waste includes batteries, CFLs (compact fluorescent lights) and fluorescent tubes, medication, paint, oil, nail polish and cleaning products (anything with a 'hazard' symbol). Read the full list on the City website.
Challenge:
- Create a space in your home to store this. Choose a safe place away from kids and pets and keep all products in their original containers. Make a sign and let everyone in your household know about it.
- If you live in an apartment, ask your building manager to create a Special Waste drop off spot. They can call the City to collect it.
- Upload a photo of your waste collection spot in the comments below.
Where to recycle your hazardous and special waste:
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Residents can drop off special waste free at any of the 7 City waste Drop-off depots.
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You can drop off special waste (and other things) at Community Environment Days held across Toronto in the spring, summer and fall. Community Environment Days are held in each ward, ensuring that residents in all parts of the City have a nearby location to safely handle waste. Find out when your local event is on the City website.
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If you've got a lot of special waste, the Toxic Taxi can come right to your door to collect special waste for free. You need the equivalent of 10 litres of hazardous waste (about 2 and half paint cans). Call 311 or fill out an online request.
- If you live in an apartment, talk to your Property Manager about arranging a collection day for the whole building
Take the extra step:
Endorse
Find ways to reduce the special and hazardous waste in your home. Use rechargeable batteries instead of disposables. Or make non-toxic cleaners that are safer for you and the environment. See recipes in Section 8 of TEA's Toxics Reduction Tool Kit.
- Create a space in your home to store this. Choose a safe place away from kids and pets and keep all products in their original containers. Make a sign and let everyone in your household know about it.
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Yvonne Ho endorsed 2014-05-22 15:22:31 -0400I use small reusable cloth bags to buy and carry fruits and vegetables instead of the plastic ones that are widely used in supermarkets
Challenge 8 - Send Packaging Packing
Send Your Packaging Packing
Too much packaging, wrapping, padding and stuffing comes with most products today. Most of it isn't necessary and is really just a way for companies to advertise. The worst part is that a lot of packaging isn't recyclable in your Blue Box!
Take a look at the things you buy - is there an alternative with less packaging or recyclable packaging?
For example, you can buy food in bulk stores to avoid food packaging.
Challenge:
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Avoid products with excessive packaging, or non-recyclable packaging, or Change what you buy to avoid packaging and tell us about it
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Snap a photo and share your story
Take the extra step:
Sign our petition to ask companies to stop using non-recyclable materials and to stop offloading the cost of disposal to cities. Click here to sign the petition.Read TEA's report on how companies can take responsibility for their product and packagin waste, including great examples of Ontario companies that are already doing it!
Endorse
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Yvonne Ho endorsed 2014-05-22 15:13:11 -0400I buy notebooks that are made of 100% recycled paper and printing paper that are made of at least 30% recycled paper
Challenge 6 - Buy Recycled
Buy Recycled
Buying recycled products is another way to reduce waste. Recycled materials don’t use as many raw materials and natural resources. They also use less water and save energy. Recycled products also help keep the green recycling economy thriving.
Recycled content is used for many products:
- office or school supplies (paper, pens and printing cartridges)
- home supplies (paint, storage bins and garbage bags)
- clothing or reusable bags made with plastic fibres
Choosing paper made from 100% recycled paper instead of trees uses 50% less water and energy - and it saves trees!
Challenge:
- If you’re buying new products, choose something that is made of recycled materials. Aim for 100% post-consumer recycled content.
- Share a photo or tell us about it
Take the extra step:
Endorse
Write to a company that you buy from and ask them to include more recycled content in their products.
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Yvonne Ho endorsed 2014-05-22 15:09:31 -0400Instead of throwing out my old clothing and bags, I donated them to Goodwill.
Challenge 4 - Think Twice Before You Buy
Think Twice Before You Buy!
Did you know that you can help the environment and reduce waste by simply not buying something? By repairing, sharing, swapping or re-using things, you can avoid wasteful packaging and avoid sending more things to landfill - and you’ll probably save money.
We can buy less, share things, or buy second-hand things to reduce the waste impact of what we own.
This includes things like borrowing a book from the library, or sharing tools with a neighbour instead of buying your own. You can also buy second hand clothing or donate your old furniture to a charitable store.
Challenge:
- Instead of buying something new, reconsider it – borrow it from a friend, or rent it instead. Or, if you really need your own, buy it second hand. Share a photo and tell us about it!
- Instead of throwing out something you don’t use anymore, donate or sell it to someone who could use it. Tell us about it! The City of Toronto website lists local non-profit groups that accept donations of used goods.
Take the extra step:
Endorse
Repair it! Instead of tossing something out, get it repaired, or learn to maintain it yourself so it lasts longer. Mend your clothes, or get them altered by a tailor. Tell us about your repair adventure and snap a photo!
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Yvonne Ho endorsed 2014-05-22 15:06:21 -0400I learned about the waste wizard last year, it’s a very useful tool when it comes to finding out what to do with my waste and recyclables!
Challenge 3 - Use Toronto's Trash Tools
Use Toronto’s Trash Tools
Did you know that in Toronto, more than half of what residents are putting into their garbage bag shouldn't be there? Much of what is put out as garbage can actually be recycled or composted.
There is a lot to learn about Toronto’s waste, and how we can reduce it.
The good news is that the City has a number of user-friendly tools to help you put your waste in the right place!
Challenge:
- Visit toronto.ca/wastewizard and bookmark the Waste Wizard, a simple online search tool to identify where to put your waste.
- The free City waste calendar lists waste collection days and each month features a number of tips on how to sort your waste - if you didn’t get one, order one now by calling 311 or send an email to [email protected] and ask for a Waste Calendar.
Tip: See "What Goes Where" on City of Toronto website for links to information on how to sort and set out your waste.
Take the extra step:
Endorse
If you already use the City tools above, share these links with a friend, or a family member.
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Challenge 2 - Measure Your Waste
Knowing how much waste you produce will help you identify how it can be reduced!
- Use Tool #1 OR Tool #2 below to calculate the approximate garbage your household creates in a year.
- Enter your calculated household waste per year in the comment box below to complete the challenge.
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Yvonne Ho answered 2014-05-22 15:01:46 -0400Q: 4 - What do you hope to get from the Waste Free Challenge?
A: Motivation to further reduce the amount of waste I produce
Challenge 1 - Waste Free Survey
The Waste Free Challenge is 10 simple steps that anyone in Toronto can take.
Take the survey
Tell us about you, and why you are taking the Challenge!
Yvonne Ho
Health, wellness and beauty enthusiast. Occasional tree hugger and environmentalist. Loves exploring new sights and places.