REALTORS® amass thousands of electronic items for charity

VANCOUVER, B.C.  In a mass recycling effort, Greater Vancouver REALTORS® donated over 2,000 used electronics items to the Electronic Recycling Association (ERA).

Over a one-week period, the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) encouraged its over 9,600 REALTOR®-members to drop off used computers, laptops, cables and fax machines, among other items.

“This event garnered an incredible response, nearly 400 REALTORS® made drop-offs during the five days we offered the service,” said Dave Watt, REBGV president. “It is not always apparent how to dispose of old computers and gadgets, so to provide an environmentally-responsible option for disposal was clearly well received.”

Hard-drives, printers and monitors were the three most collected items, followed by mobile phones, VCRs and old stereo equipment. Four trips with a full-sized moving truck were required to pick-up all of the accumulated items.

All of the items received were given to the ERA, 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. 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.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver is an association representing more than 9,600 REALTORS®. The Real Estate Board provides a variety of membership services, including the Multiple Listing Service®.

For more information please contact:
Craig Munn, Assistant Manager, Communications
Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver
Phone: (604) 730-3146 Fax: (604) 730-3102
E-mail: cmunn@rebgv.org