How many tires have been recycled, how many computers and TV's are discarded each year, how much paint do we dispose of? Get the facts on Alberta’s recycling programs.
Electronics Recycling
Alberta’s electronics recycling program was the first of its kind in Canada.
Albertans have recycled over 2.8 million electronics since the program began.
- Currently televisions, computer monitors, CPUs, keyboards, cables, mice, speakers, laptops, notebook computers and printers are accepted for recycling at the collection sites.
- Most collection sites do not charge to accept scrap electronics for recycling. However a small number of sites may charge a tipping fee which is outside the scope of Alberta's Electronics Recycling Program. Please call your nearest site to confirm. Use the Collection Site Finder to locate a collection site near you.
More than 53,600 metric tonnes of electronic waste have been recycled since the program began in October 2004. This includes more than 860,000 computers, 530,000 printers, 900,000 monitors and 480,000 TVs that have been diverted from landfills.
Some electronic products contain hazardous substances such as lead and mercury that can create environmental and health risks if not managed properly.
Electronics contain recoverable resources such as metals, glass and plastic that can be recycled into new products.
Tire Recycling
With the assistance of Alberta's tire retailers, municipal collection sites and registered tire processors, Albertans have recycled over 59.4 million tires since the program began in 1992.
Albertans recycle more than 15 kilograms of tires per person, more than any other provincial tire program.
Albertans discard over 5 million tires per year and all of these tires are currently utilized by the province's tire recycling industry.
Recycling 50,000 tonnes of tire material per year instead of burying it saves 384,000 cubic metres of landfill space.
Albertans have saved well over $230 million by not sending scrap tires to the landfill.
Alberta municipalities have received over $6.6 million in grants supporting 305 projects using recycled rubber products.
Recycled tire products manufactured in Alberta include "loose crumb" for playgrounds, pour-in-place playground surfacing and moulded rubber products including patio "pavers", tiles, and roofing tiles.
Nearly $7 million was reinvested in Alberta communities through Asphalt Rubber projects over the last 7 years.
Since 2002, over 172 kilometres of Alberta’s roads have incorporated recycled tire rubber as part of a multi-year project to improve the performance of asphalt pavement.
Paint Recycling
Albertans are embracing paint recycling. Since April 2008, over 3 million litres of waste paint ( or 3,600 tonnes) have been collected and processed.
More than 151 tonnes of paint containers have been recycled in the program since it began.
Over 450,000 aerosol containers have been collected and processed since April, 2008
Waste paint can be returned to any of over 200 permanent collection sites and municipal roundups.
By providing standardized bins for depositing paints at sites throughout the province, recycling paint is even more convenient for Albertans.
Albertans purchase over 30 million litres of paint, stain and related products each year.
On average, between 5 and 10 percent of this paint goes unused.
80% of waste paints being returned are recycled into new products.
Recycled paint has the same quality control as standard paints.
Did you know?
Albertans recycled over 1.9 million litresof paint and over 250,000 paint aerosols in 2008.