A recycling option could be in place within two years for electronic waste such as old computers that now end up in landfills or gather dust in basements.

The province has released an intentions paper calling for an industry-led e-waste recycling system to be up and running by mid-2007. TVs, computers, monitors, printers and accessories like keyboards, mice and cables would be initially included.

But Environment Minister Barry Penner said that could expand later to take in products such as stereo equipment, cell phones and small appliances.

"About 70% of materials in a computer can be recycled," he said. "Precious metals such as copper, silver, gold, platinum and palladium as well as steel, aluminum, glass and plastic can be reclaimed and reused."

Interested parties have until Nov. 15 to comment.

An estimated 12,000 tonnes of electronic waste went into Greater Vancouver's landfills last year.

The paper calls electronic waste a growing environmental and financial burden on the public that can be reduced via what's called extended producer responsibility. That aims to ensure those who produce, use or sell a product pay for end-of-life waste management in the same way as stewardship programs that now apply to beverage containers.

The province's paper doesn't map out how the system would work or how much any levy on consumers would be. Instead, it directs producers to figure out a stewardship plan and determine how the system will be financed at no cost to taxpayers.

But expect to pay about $20 to $25 more when you buy a new computer, says Electronics Product Stewardship Canada president David Betts. The organization represents major manufacturers from Dell to Sony and is the likeliest group to head the B.C. system.

Whether it's a fee added on to the bill or buried in the overall price, Betts said the cost of the recycling system will fall on buyers.

"At the end of the day there's only one person who pays and that's the consumer," he said.
Betts said industry knows electronics recycling is inevitable and is prepared to take the lead - in part to ensure they rather than government control fees and ensure costs are minimized.

Government-set fees can be very hard to change later, he said, and can be sucked into general revenue with less accountability.

Besides paying a bit more, consumers may eventually notice some design changes - particularly ones that make parts recycling easier as well as elimination of some hazardous components like lead.

Providing a place to return electronics for recycling would end the flow of discarded products not just to B.C. landfills, but also into the hands of overseas workers.

Toxins released from salvaging efforts in Asian countries are blamed for health and environmental problems.

Ridge Meadows Recycling Society executive director Kelli Speirs applauded the move. "I'm thrilled to see it coming out," she said. "It's been a long time coming. We kind of despaired as to whether it would ever get here."

A recycled idea

E-waste stewardship is already in place in Alberta, where consumers must pay $15 to $45 more when they buy a new TV, $10 extra for a new computer CPU and $12 more for a new monitor.

Similar programs are also being contemplated in Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
Some e-waste is already recycled by salvagers - either here or overseas.