MP Doug Eyolfson talks Community BBQ and E-Waste Recycling Drive in The Metro
This post was originally printed in the The Metro - Canstar Community News by Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia-Headingley MP Doug Eyolfson.
Since 2017, I’ve hosted a community barbecue and e-waste recycling drive with Equal Opportunities West.
So far, we have received an overwhelmingly positive response from our community and I’m very proud to share that last year, we diverted over 40,000 pounds of e-waste from landfills.
What is more impressive than our community’s response is the organization we’re partnering with. Equal Opportunities West is a non-profit organization in our community that provides persons with disabilities individualized supportive services to help secure competitive employment through a variety of programs and resources.
Last year, Equal Opportunities West received $450,000 from Western Economic Diversification to help entrepreneurs with disabilities succeed and thrive. They’re also recipients of 2019 Canada Summer Jobs funding to employ youth in our community and provide them with valuable work experience.
On June 8, I will host our third annual community barbecue and e-waste recycling drive with this incredible organization. The event runs from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Equal Opportunities West on 851 Cavalier Dr. We will serve complimentary refreshments, including hot dogs and veggie dogs.
The e-waste donations support Equal Opportunities West’s recycling program. Through the program, members breakdown each device, stripping wires, removing screws, and dismantling circuit boards. Once the materials are separated, they’re sent to Urban Mine, a local facility, which in turn pays for the parts. Each individual who works in the e-waste program receives a portion of the money in the form of a paycheque.
Equal Opportunities West gratefully accepts the following e-waste items: computers, laptops, printers, photo copiers, fax machines, televisions, home electronics, stereos, amplifiers, speakers, small kitchen appliances, vacuums, power tools, electric motors, car batteries, cellphones, phones, all metal objects, all metals, aluminum cans, and all cables and wires.
Due to government and safety regulations they cannot accept items containing Freon (air conditioners and refrigerators) or smoke detectors.
I encourage everyone in Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia-Headingley to stop by on June 8, drop off their e-waste, pick up a hot dog and say hello to the amazing staff, volunteers and participants at Equal Opportunities West.
For more information on Equal Opportunities West, please visit: equalopportunitieswest.com. If you have any further questions about this event or any other federal matters, please contact my office at 204-984-6432 or doug.eyolfson@parl.gc.ca
Added: Tue May 14th 2019
