Electronic waste facility opening to public

Advanced Materials Recovery is announcing the opening of its London Electronics Waste Recycling Facility to the public.

On January 23, 2010 an Electronics Recycling day will be held to raise funds for the London and area food bank.

If you have unnecessary old electronics such as television sets, audio equipment or those not-so-useful cables simply taking up space in your home, than you are advised to drop them off on this particular recycling day.

"We encompass different areas of electronics like medical equipment . . . not only standard electronics," said Victor Parish, a company spokesperson.

The city of London presently has three depots for electronic waste but the AMR depot will accept a wider variety of electronics from the public.

There are absolutely no fees to the general public but Londoners are encouraged to bring a donation of either food or money for the London food bank.

This new depot is hoping to educate Londoners about how to safely and effectively get rid of their old electronics in an environmentally safe way.

According to Jay Stanford, the city's director of environmental programs and solid waste, this facility is a great thing and will mean even greater things in the future for the city of London.

“The city is planning to add additional (electronics) waste material to drop-off depots, as well as the household special waste depot... but as far as growing that program further, it will be contingent upon how companies (such as AMR) grow their business,” he said.

Stanford believes the depot could have long-term benefits.

The facility will accept the following:

- All IT equipment including micro, mini, laptop computers, server racks, routers etc.

- Printers and business equipment including fax machines, copiers

- Data devices including hard drives

- Electronic circuit boards

- Telecommunications equipment including cell phones and PDAs

- Audiovisual equipment

- Consumer electronics including digital cameras and toys

- Monitors and television sets

- Medical equipment

- Rechargeable batteries

- Wires and cables...

The facility cannot accept the following:

- Small appliances including microwaves, vacuum cleaners, toaster ovens etc.

- White goods

- Air conditioners

- Power tools

The official opening of AMR's electronics-waste recycling facility takes place January 23 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 38 Adelaide St.

AMR Inc. specializes in recycling electronic waste for the ICI and public sector across North America by offering value asset recovery, asset management, reverse logistics and product destruction and demanufacturing services in a secure, environmentally responsible manner with full diversion of all materials from landfill. Some local London clients include London Health Sciences Centre and Fanshawe College.

Please note that larger collections of electronic items from ICI customers will also be accepted with prior notification.

For more information on electronics-recycling options visit www.dowhatyoucan.ca