More electronics to be added to recycling program next spring

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 14, 2009

Ontario Electronic Stewardship ready to expand electronics
recycling program: applauds Minister’s approval of phase two plan

Cell phones, cameras, audio-visual equipment to be added April 1, 2010

Toronto – Ontario Electronic Stewardship is ready to expand the Waste
Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Program to collect a wider range
of electronic devices for recycling, Executive Director, Carol Hochu said today
in response to the news that Environment Minister John Gerretsen has
approved the second phase of the program.

The expanded program—set to begin on April 1, 2010—means that Ontarians
will be able to take cell phones, cameras, audio-visual equipment, speakers,
radios and many other electronics to designated collection sites to be recycled.

Phase one of the program already collects televisions, laptop and desktop
computers, desktop printers and fax machines. For these electronics,
consumers can go to a website, www.dowhatyoucan.ca, to find their nearest
collection location.

“We are very excited that our plan to add more waste electrical and electronic
equipment to our program next year has been approved by the Minister,” said
Ms. Hochu. “The first phase of the program, launched April 1, has already
collected nearly 35,500 tonnes of unwanted electronics—well on our way
toward our five year goal of 160,000 tonnes.”

The industry-developed and operated WEEE program plan has had great
success since it began over four months ago. In the first quarter, 35,484
tonnes of WEEE have been collected. There are currently 262 collectors and
four approved processors participating, along with many transportation and
consolidation firms. The revised program plan expands the program not only to
include more materials - 44 materials in total - but also provides new options
and increased flexibility for stewards and service providers alike. “OES has
successfully developed a strong and growing network of collection sites and
events, and steward partnerships to provide convenient opportunities for
individual consumers and businesses to reuse and recycle their WEEE” said
Hochu. “More items accepted means that more of these materials will be kept
out of Ontario’s landfills resulting in greater protection of the environment.”

The program will begin accepting the additional WEEE items commencing April
1, 2010. Consumers can find their nearest WEEE collection site or event by
going to www.dowhatyoucan.ca and searching by municipality, by postal code,
or by material type.

. . . /2

OES is a not-for-profit organization formed by leading retail, information technology and
consumer electronic companies to implement the WEEE Program Plan under the Waste
Diversion Act, and is responsible for developing and implementing the WEEE Program
Plan, in co-operation with Waste Diversion Ontario. The plan requires brand owners, first
importers and assemblers to pay fees on designated electrical and electronic equipment
supplied into the Ontario market. These fees pay for collection, transportation, reuse and
recycling of the collected WEEE as well as research and development, consumer
education and program administration.

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Learn more:

www.ontarioelectronicstewardship.ca

www.dowhatyoucan.ca

www.wdo.ca

For more information contact:

Susan Logan, Communications
647-777-3362
slogan@stewardedge.ca