Great Rotary Fundraiser: E Waste Collection
OVERVIEW: Recently the Saamis Rotary Club of Medicine Hat held the first ever
electronic waste round up of its kind and raised over $8000 by collecting eligible e
waste items. (computers, TV’s, CPU’s, laptops, and printers) SEE:
www.albertarecycling.ca for more details.
The Alberta Recycling guidelines (ARMA) state that municipalities are the collectors
of e waste and such have the funding to hold annual round ups in their communities.
However, the costs to a municipality to hold an e waste round up are too high (union
employees, WCB, overtime, etc.) so they are not doing round ups or not promoting e
waste collection as they should.
Our Rotary club worked with one of five registered processors in Alberta. See:
www.albertarecycling.ca GEEP Alberta in Edmonton allowed us to collect ALL e waste
including the non-funded ARMA e waste. Why is that important? Because not only
do people have computers, TV`s printers, CPU`s and laptops (funded materials $$$)
but they also have microwaves, DVD, VCR`s, satellite receivers, telephones, clock
radios, (non funded materials) etc. etc. We wanted people to be to dispose of ALL e
waste in an environmentally friendly way and to save our landfills from toxic
materials.
Saamis Rotary Club E Waste round up - 14 hours X 25 volunteers = 350 man hours
(not including the organizing hours)
Promoting the event was easy, $15,000 in ARMA funding, one of the radio stations
became a proud supporter and promoted the event (PSA’s) FREE!!! A lot of rotary
members donated their time, services, employees, etc.
This type of service goes far beyond any other fund raiser that we have done in the
past. Not only are we fund raising for rotary projects, whether they be
environmental or not, we are providing a necessary service to our local communities.
Everyone wins – rotary, community, environment and government….WOW! This
does not happen often enough so I think it is imperative that Rotary be branded as
an E Waste partner with municipal and provincial governments.
First thing to do is familiarize yourself with Alberta Recycling Management Authority
(ARMA) check them out on line. Review the 2009 round up program.
www.albertarecycling.ca Find out what your community has already for e waste
collection – www.albertarecycling.ca
If you feel there is a need, ask for approval, and hold a round up. Permission must
be given from your local municipality – Environmental Utility department. From
there, you will work directly with ARMA (Alberta recycling) on guidelines to follow.
Form a committee (3-4 members) to work out details.
Give yourself 3 months for planning; location, sponsors, press releases, etc. 5 -
weeks advertising. Utilize each Rotarian`s occupation as an opportunity to serve the
community. (Fork lift, Food service, etc.)
What worked well is having a radio station be the proud sponsor of the event. MY96
radio was ALL over it. They gave us great coverage leading up to the event 5 weeks
of promotional PSA`s. A live remote was essential.
What would I do differently, have more volunteers (partner with other rotary clubs in
your community), more cages for e waste, sponsor a local charity BBQ. We had
FREE burgers, but obviously the burgers weren't the catch...the e waste was.
This should get you started on the road to e waste collection. As I said, I am
available to answer any questions you may have regarding a successful round up.
Phyllis Verhoeven
Saamis Rotary Club
Environment projects coordinator
403-548-5138