Drop off electronic or hazardous waste; pick up free compost in Brock

Whitby, Ontario – The Regional Municipality of Durham, Works Department, invites residents to drop off Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste (MHSW), free of charge, at a special upcoming collection event. At this event, residents can also pick up free compost.

When: Saturday, April 22, from 8 a.m. to noon.

Where: Rick MacLeish Memorial Community Centre, 91 Elliot Street, Cannington.

Why:

WEEE collection: Examples of electronic waste include: cellular phones, audio and video players, VCRs, DVD and Blu-Ray players, stereos and receivers, computer peripherals, printing devices, televisions, personal digital assistants and pagers, cameras and radios, telephones, desktop computers, monitors, camcorders and portable computers. Residents should erase personal information from hard drives and SIM cards before bringing their obsolete, broken and end of life electronics for safe and secure recycling.

MHSW collection: By safely disposing of MHSW, residents help prevent toxic materials from entering local ecosystems and local water sources. Representatives from Durham Region’s Source Water Protection program will be on site to provide educational material and help you learn how to protect sources of municipal drinking water. Examples of MHSW include: antifreeze; batteries; brake fluid; motor oil and filters; fluorescent light bulbs and tubes; pesticides; herbicides; fertilizers; insecticides; medications; sharps (in a secure, rigid container); pressurized tanks (propane, oxygen, helium or other gases); pool chemicals; paints; stains and solvents. Commercial, institutional, agricultural or industrial waste is not permitted.

Compost giveaway: To provide residents with free compost made using organics collected through the Region’s curbside Green Bin and Leaf and Yard Waste programs. Residents should bring a shovel and containers to carry compost. Quantities are first-come, first served and limited to four blue boxes of compost per vehicle. Green bins, blue boxes and backyard composters will also be available for purchase (cash only), and broken bins can be exchanged for free.

Note: Residents are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item, to be donated to a local food bank (please check expiration dates).

For more information, including tips for preparing to attend a collection event, visit durham.ca/wasteevents. To learn more about waste management in Durham, visit durham.ca/waste, email waste@durham.ca, call 1-800-667-5671 or download the Durham Region Waste app.

- 30 -

For more information, please contact Corporate Communications.