In one of the largest single donations to Vancouver’s Electronic Recycling Association (ERA), Fraser Valley REALTORS® have donated over 1,000 electronic items for recycling or refurbishing, keeping them out of Lower Mainland landfills.
The first-ever electronics-recycling event for members of the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB) was held at the Board office in Surrey and at Landmark Realty in Abbotsford, January 28 – 31, 2008. REALTORS® dropped off, among other items, 111 computers, 138 monitors, 182 printers/faxes/scanners, 146 pieces of stereo equipment/VCRs/DVDs and cameras, 92 keyboards, over 75 phones and even one microfiche reader.
“In planning the event, we thought we’d be a perfect fit for helping the environment. REALTORS® are community-minded, plus we’re a major consumer of technology because it’s how we service our clients,” said Ray Werger, chair of the Boards’ technology committee and a REALTOR® with Royal LePage – Coronation Park Realty. “Some of the donations like laptops, scanners and cell phones were surprisingly new, so they will be greatly appreciated by whoever receives them next.”
ERA initially sent a one-tonne truck to pick up the donations, but had to also dispatch a three-tonne truck.
In a 2003 report, Environment Canada revealed that computers, phones, AV equipment and small household appliances account for more than 140,000 tonnes (or 4.5 kg per capita) of waste in Canadian landfills each year.
“We look forward to more community round-ups in hopes of collecting more computers and laptops to fulfill hundreds of charity requests,’ said Joanna Trebon, ERA’s operations manager. “We thank the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board for their hard work in arranging this successful event.”
ERA is a non-profit organization that collects old computers and electronics and recycles or refurbishes them for local schools, charities, not-for-profit groups, libraries, elderly homes and other community organizations.
Pictured: Ray Werger, Chair of FVREB’s Technology Committee, with computers, monitors and electronics. These donated items will be recycled or refurbished and kept out of Lower Mainland landfills.
