Metcalfe school collecting old electronics

Posted Feb 2, 2012 By Emma Jackson

EMC News - Metcalfe's Community Christian School is trading old for new as it recycles old electronics to buy a new sound system for the school.

The elementary school on Glen Street in Metcalfe is collecting old cell phones, printer and toner cartridges and digital cameras to send to Think Recycle, a North American recycling company that will pay the school for each qualifying item and plant a tree for every 24.

"Its win-win," said administrative assistant Kathryn Vedder, who organized the recycling drive.

"We reduce the carbon footprint, trees get planted, and it teaches that stewardship premise to our students as well as raising funds."

Parents, students and members of the community are welcome to drop off their old electronics at the school. As the collection box fills up, Think Recycle covers shipping costs to send it to the depot, and it's sorted.

For each qualifying item, the school gets a certain amount of money in their online account. When they hit $50, they can request a cheque be sent to the school.

Unqualified items, such as phone chargers, are sent to other depots that can recycle them or dispose of them properly, according to the Think Recycle website.

Think Recycle has also partnered with Tree Canada to plant a tree for every 24 items recycled, although they aren't necessarily planted locally.

Vedder said the school hopes to make $500 towards buying a sound system, because each time they host an open house or meeting they must rent the expensive equipment from an outside company.

"We're hoping to raise $500, but we're not going to stop there," she said. "As long as we're able to keep the interest up, we'll just keep collecting and sending them in."

She noted the program is primarily for the environmental benefit, although the fundraising benefits the private school which relies entirely on donations and tuition to operate.

"Our primary focus is the greening of the planet. We're trying to be stewardly in as many ways as we can," Vedder said. For more information contact the school at 613-821-3669.