Creston Valley residents no longer have to wonder about what to do with unwanted or broken small appliances. Since Oct. 1, New Life Furniture and Recycling has been one of more than 100 drop-off locations around the province through a new program called Unplugged, the Small Appliance Recycling Program.
“This is a welcome addition to B.C.’s industry-managed and funded recycling programs,” said Recycling Council of BC executive director Brock Macdonald. “By diverting small appliances from municipal waste streams, Unplugged will recover valuable resources, promote conservation and reduce waste management costs for local governments throughout the province.”
The program, the first of its kind in Canada, was introduced by the Canadian Electrical Stewardship Association. It will accept more than 120 small appliances for recycling, ranging from toasters and electric toothbrushes to countertop microwaves and vacuum cleaners.
“This is an important addition to recycling efforts in our community,” said Iain Bell, Town of Creston engineering and public works director.
As many as two million small appliances that were previously destined for the landfill will be diverted to collect valuable components, helping to reduce pollution, save energy and protect the environment.
After an appliance is brought to a drop-off location, it is transported to processors in Western Canada and separated into different materials that are then recycled. Metals will be smelted down and recycled into other metal products, while plastics and glass will be sorted and sold or reused in various manufacturing processes.
Costs of the program will be supported by fees added to the purchase price of new appliances. The fees range from 25 cents to $10, depending on the item’s size and value. Most are in the $1-$2 range.
In Creston, the drop-off centre is located at New Life Furniture and Recycling at 116 Northwest Blvd. A full list of accepted products and fees can be found at unpluggedrecycling.ca.