Business PickupEvery year on the third Monday of October, Waste Reduction Week (WRW) kicks off across Canada to spread awareness about resource efficiency and waste control. Led by the Recycling Council of Ontario, the initiative began in the 1980s and was formalized in 2001. Today, environmental organizations from all ten provinces unite to commend the efforts and achievements of citizens and businesses, while inspiring them to make environmentally conscious choices for the future. By encouraging a mindset shift towards conservation, they aim to minimize waste across every aspect of daily life and business operations.
This year, WRW will be held from October 19 through the 25. Each day of the week focuses on a specific type of waste, with Wednesday, October 21 emphasizing e-waste. According to WRW Canada’s official website, more than 44 million tons of e-waste was accumulated globally in 2019, only 20% of which was recycled. As an e-waste recycling company, Quantum is committed to the pursuit of increasing that number.
Quantum’s role in waste reduction
Electronics recycling is one of Quantum’s core services. Each month, we process roughly 50,000 IT assets. Approximately 70% of those devices are resold. Consumers and businesses can purchase refurbished equipment for a fraction of their normal price through our retail store QNovum. Not only does this ensure fewer electronics end up in landfills, but it also supports the “circular economy,” a key theme of WRW. The goal of the circular economy is to transition from the linear approach of manufacturing to consumption to landfill, towards a cyclical process in which items are made, used and then recycled and repurposed for reuse.
Not only is purchasing refurbished devices better for the environment, but it also helps consumers and businesses save money. Organizations with Quantum business accounts can also offer employee discounts through Quantum’s retail store, QNovum, to further incentivize the purchase of refurbished electronics.
Whether you’re looking to recycle your company’s IT assets or your own personal devices, Quantum has e-waste recycling solutions available.
What does Waste Reduction Week mean for businesses?
In previous years, Quantum has participated in WRW by hosting recycling events at workplaces. Quantum dropped off a cage, which would then be filled with IT assets to be recycled. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this approach has been suspended for 2020. Nonetheless, we still encourage companies to partake in WRW by scheduling a pickup for their e-waste. We’ll securely break down your equipment into usable components, while also ensuring comprehensive data destruction to support your business’s compliance with data privacy regulations. Companies with considerable e-waste can also profit from this approach, as Quantum offers a trade-in value for items that can be resold.
What does Waste Reduction Week mean for consumers?
If you’re a consumer looking to participate in WRW, you can also recycle your personal e-waste through Quantum. Each of our recycling sites features a cage where anyone can drop off old laptops, tablets, and other devices during operating hours. Since Quantum is an authorized recycler, any electronics with power cords or batteries can be recycled at these centers, free of charge.
Many Canadians take advantage of this arrangement to ensure the responsible disposal of their e-waste, helping to prevent it from going into a landfill. To prevent pilferage and ensure data security, the recycling sites have round-the-clock surveillance, and bins are emptied on a daily basis.
To find your nearest Quantum location or to inquire about how your company can start recycling its IT assets, visit our contact page.