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Québec’s electronic recycling objectives

In Quebec, electronic stores are becoming the most frequented by people, especially as the holidays approach. Unlike the other provinces of Canada, Quebec still does not have the essential means to recover the old devices discarded on both sides. Under these conditions, it is important to learn more about Quebec’s objectives relating to electronic recycling. Being an expert in this field, our company, Info Liquidation Recycle, enlightens you on the subject.

Quebec’s position on electronic device recycling

The city of Montreal in the province of Québec

According to Perry Niro, the head of Quebec’s first forum on electronic recycling, Quebec is in the last class positions in Canada. At this point, only 30% of the products discarded in the environment can only be recovered. The aim of the authorities is to achieve a rate of around 70 per cent. But this requires a fairly substantial investment.

In November 2009, a draft regulation was published in Quebec. However, parliament must, first and foremost, approve the adoption of Bill 88 on residual materials management. Only after one year can the said regulation enter into force. All this to say that the Quebec recycling system will not be in place until 2012.

During this time, the specialists in charge of the success of this mission will be able to continue to explore the pros and cons of the different strategies adopted in Canada and in the other provinces. To this end, with the Ontario experience, it is easy to see the risks of slippage in this system. According to Niro, it is important that the recycling fee does not become a tax. That is precisely why we will have to inform people about the objectives of this system. In Ontario, for example, there has been resistance because people have not received the necessary information.

According to David Conrad, an executive at Nokia, designing and manufacturing products that are not harmful and easier to recycle is a matter of profitability and image. Over the years, Nokia has believed it must abandon polyvinyl chloride and chlorinated compounds. Thus, this company has made an ecological impact by saving 200 million.

Before the introduction of an electronic recovery system in Quebec, it would be better to send your devices to Ecocentres or office stores.

Electronic equipment

Computer equipment in Quebec

In reality, each electronic product is under the responsibility of a specific organization. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) covers several electronic products. These include, among others, computer screen, TV, printer, internal hard drive, external hard drive or SSD, fax machine, digitizer, motherboard, camera, keyboard, computer mouse, etc.

The objective is that from the year 2020, the recycling rate of electronic products will be 40%. However, there are some products for which the target computer recycling rate is 25%. These include cell phones, conventional and cordless phones, digital audio and photo devices, camcorders and GPS location systems. These rates are projected to increase by 5% each year to 65%.

For the management of this electronic products recovery and reclamation program, the Association pour le recyclage des produits électroniques (ARPE-Québec) was chosen by RECYC-QUEBEC. Thus, you only have to consult the website of this association to have a precise idea of the different points of deposit.
Far from the reality of recycling electronic devices
To tell you the truth, the recycling program put in place since 2012 has still not achieved the expected results. It is difficult for organizations to recover 3 kilos of electronic equipment per Quebecer at the end of each year. In 2013, for example, the rate of electronic recycling carried out is 40% compared to the target set.

Today, there are 500 drop-off locations. Thus, you can bring the RAM, the radios, the video card, the sound card, the game consoles, the electronic battery, the computers, the computer server, the monitor or the laptop in one of these centers, 35 of which are located on Quebec territory.

To make people better aware of the program, there was an advertising campaign that was launched. This is why leaflets were distributed to various mailboxes throughout Quebec. Now, if there is a problem with your laptop, you can call a specialist parsec or bring it back to a recycling center for the good of all.

Moreover, one of the structures that is professional in electronic recovery in the Greater Montreal area is our company: Info Liquidation Recycle. By the way, for all your computer and electronic recycling work, our teams are present in the cities of Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, North Shore, South Shore to serve you.