An interfaith community group in Calgary has become the latest organization to offer a new lease on life for used computers.
And on the cellphone front, Bell Mobility has just launched Recycle, Reuse, Redial, a national wireless phone recycling program.
Citing growing environmental concerns over the disposal of used PCs, the Calgary Inter-Faith Community Action Association has launched Re-Compute, a program that will work with businesses to repair and recycle electronic equipment.
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| Canada NewsWire |
| Bell Mobility chief Michael Neuman got his head around the idea of extending the lives of wireless phones. |
“We are tackling a growing worldwide need when we rebuild and recycle outdated electronic equipment,” noted project team leader Mark Fox.
ReCompute will accept donations of old computers from both individuals and corporations, and will offer on-the-job training for people who need new skills and work experience in computer and printer repair.
A retail store has been opened at 5875 9 Street S.E. in Calgary to sell affordable computers and other office equipment. Twenty per cent of the products will be offered to charities and low-income Calgarians.
In addition, a national non-profit society based in Toronto takes outdated and unwanted computers in Calgary and sells them at a modest price to other non-profit groups, charities or low-income earners. The reBoot Alberta Computer Recycling Society can be reached at 233-7557.
Last fall, Calgary-based Maxus Technology Inc. opened Western Canada’s first e-waste recycling facility in Rimbey. The company collects electronic equipment from businesses throughout the province for either recycling or refurbishing and reselling.
Meanwhile, Bell Mobility estimates in the program’s first year, it will keep about 50,000 used phones out of landfills. About 60 per cent of the unwanted phones will be recycled, while the remaining units will be reused, with a portion donated to charitable organizations or resold outside Canada, with proceeds pumped back into the program.
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