Ecycle drive celebrates 10th year

By Justin Seward - Lethbridge Herald on April 17, 2024.

Herald photo by Justin Seward Tiare Marin and Andrea Aluarez of Ecycle recycle an old printer during the Ecycle Drive over the weekend at the westside Save-On-Foods location.

The Ecycle Drive celebrated its 10th year of electronic recycling in Lethbridge over the weekend.

Citizens could donate or recycle electronics at both Save-on-Foods locations and Visions Electronics for the purposes of being reused, repurposed, recycled all in effort of keeping them out of the landfill.

“People are here happy,” said Alan Schneider, event organizer.

“Anybody who comes up here is really happy because it’s like I don’t have to go to landfill, I don’t have to pay to get rid of this. So we’re doing two things. One (it) is economically great to do and the other one it’s like people are happy and it gets you out and (doing) things.”

It then takes weeks to months to sort everything and figure out what is going to be done with the items.

“The event brings awareness to people to be a little bit more eco-friendly, environmentally friendly maybe, and rather than just toss it or hide it in the garbage or something, bring it out and dispose of it properly is the biggest thing,” said Schneider.

Schneider figured they would collect between 40,000 and 50,000 pounds in the weekend.

“With the new program, we’re taking everything,” said Schneider.

“So it’s not just electronics, we’re taking anything with a cord or with a battery. And so that’s helping the environment a smidge when you look at the entre scheme of things.”

The biggest difference over the years is no longer receiving CRT televisions.

“I think we had one this year and it’s gone,” said Schneider.

“So unless there are 80-pound ones in people’s basements somewhere until they sell the house, they’re going to stay there and we don’t see them anymore.”

The electronic recycling goes to Calgary before being shipped to Ontario for final processing.