Heavy metal 101
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E-Waste Not, Want Not
The Future
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E-Waste Not, Want Not

One source of heavy metals that seems to be getting bigger and bigger is electronic waste - old electronic equipment such as TVs, computers, stereos, and VCRs.

Heavy metals are used in the production of electronics - cadmium in circuit boards, mercury in switches, and lead in cathode ray monitors. Many cities are grappling with the safe disposal of electronics. When these devices are dumped in a landfill, they pollute the environment by leaching into soil. If they're incinerated, they contaminate the air.

Learn more:

• In Alberta, consumers pay an extra fee - depending on the size of their gadgets - to cover the cost of safe disposal. For more information on provincial plans to safely dispose of e-waste visit: http://www.epsc.ca/r_links.html#Provincial_
• For e-waste drop-off locations in major cities, visit: http://www.era.ca/
• The government of Canada also has a website with information on donating a computer to a school or non-profit: http://cfs-ope.ic.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=en&id=12

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