Georgian leads the way in electronic waste recycling
Feb. 24, 2011
Georgian College is taking another step forward as an environmental leader in implementing a college-wide electronic waste recycling program.
Effective Feb. 14, all electronic waste, including cell phones, at all Georgian campuses will be collected and processed by GEEP (Global Electric Electronic Processing Inc.) of Barrie. Under terms of the contract, Georgian will receive a rebate based on the amount of waste that GEEP collects and processes.
GEEP breaks down all electronic waste into commodities which are then sold for reuse. In this way, Georgian’s electronic waste has now become a revenue stream for the College. Because GEEP is located in Barrie, energy use associated with the transportation of Georgian’s wastes will minimize the carbon footprint on the environment.
“We are very pleased to be working with GEEP, a local Barrie company that offers state-of-the-art recycling processes,” said Dianne Corrigan, Environmental Sustainability Co-ordinator.
Details as to the location of collection receptacles and the types of electronic wastes collected will be provided in the near future.
Georgian, named as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for 2010, has a formal strategy of continuous improvement of its environmental footprint. While some campuses have, in past years, offered cell phone and electronic waste opportunities, this agreement now formalizes disposition of electronics across all campuses.
Other policies and practices see Georgian continuously reducing the amount of waste going to local landfills, as well as reducing the energy used by the institution. Environmental considerations are also an integral part of much of the College’s curriculum.
GEEP is an approved electronic waste processor with Ontario Electronic Stewardship, a 2010 Trifecta winner of the Recycling Council of Ontario, and recently received Deloitte’s “Green 15” designation recognizing GEEP as a GreenTech company whose technology promotes a more efficient use and reuse of the earth’s resources.