University of Alberta
OP-20: Electronic Waste Recycling Program

All e-waste is collected centrally and transported to an e-waste recycle center. The recycler is certified by the Government of Alberta and has met all the required safety and environmental standards within the province. The equipment is picked up by university staff; they are trained in the process and the of personal protective equipment while removing the items. For April 2011 to March 2011, 10,079 pieces of ewaste were recycled.

All e-waste is processed through our Surplus department at Supply Management Services (SMS). The individual departments are responsible for identifying the items and submitting a request to SMS for pickup. Once the request is received, SMS' drivers are dispatched to pick up the items. Once the equipment arrives in SMS' warehouse, a sort is performed and it is prepared for transport off-campus to a local recycler. The local recycler processes the equipment and provides our department with a record of destruction.

Collection centers are set up on campus by the institution two times per year. Students and staff are permitted to bring old or obsolete computers, televisions and other electronic devices. The items are removed from campus and taken to a local recycler.

Sustain SU, the Student Sustainability Service, has drop-boxes set up at five locations around campus to collect smaller items. These drop-boxes accept items like cell phones, batteries, computer ink cartridges (http://www.su.ualberta.ca/services/ecos/recycling). Items that are too large can be brought to Sustain SU's main office. Batteries are weighed before being taken to a City of Edmonton Eco Station, and ink cartridges are counted before being brought to Staples Business Depot.

Responsible Parties:

Name:Phil Webb
Department: Supply Management Services
Position: Distribution Manager

Name: Ian Moore,
Department: Students' Union
Position: Director, Sustain SU