SWEEP -
Sask. Waste Electronic Equipment Program
In keeping with their commitment to a Green and Prosperous economy, Environment Minister John Nilson and the Government of Saskatchewan announced the creation of the Saskatchewan Waste Electronic Equipment Program (SWEEP) in late 2006.
Effective Feb. 1, 2007, sales of computers and associated components (for ex., printers and monitors), and of televisions, have included an environmental handling fee (EHF) paid by the consumer to cover end-of-life recycling of the equipment. EHFs were updated (most were lowered!) in August 2009; and the program was expanded in April, 2010, as follows:
| ITEM |
NOTES |
EHF |
| Desktop computer |
Standalone: computer terminal, desktop used as server, thin client |
$15.00 |
| Portable computer |
Includes laptops, notebooks, tablets, netbooks |
$3.00 |
| Display device |
Standalone: television, computer monitor, professional display, TV with built-in DVD and/or VCR player/recorder, closed-circuit monitor screen |
Based on diagonal screen measurement:
29" or less: $9.25
30" or greater: $23.25 |
| Printers and Fax Machines |
Standalone: desktop printers, portable or PC-free photo printer, camera dock printer, destop label or barcode or card printer, desktop fax machine |
$8.00 |
| Peripherals |
Keyboard, mouse, trackball, keypad |
$1.10 |
| Personal/Portable audio/video playback and/or recording systems |
Portable: AM/FM radios, stereos, tape players/recorders, disc players/records, cassette or digital audio/voice recorders;
MP3 players; docking speakers; headphones, mini earphones & microphones; headsets; microphones for use with an obligated product; digital and non-digital cameras; digital photo keychains; video cameras/camcorders; PDAs which are not enabled to connect to cellular networks |
$0.40 |
| Home audio/video playback and/or recording systems |
AM/FM radios, clock radios, VCRs, DVRs, PVRs, disc players/recorders (DVD, blue-ray, etc), laser disc players/recorders, cable and satellite receivers, set-top boxes.
Home stereo systems or components, including:amps, receivers, CD or tape decks, turntables/record players; home speaker systems, including computer speakers; other digital music recorders/players; audio docking stations; analog & digital video cameras for home security or other closed circuit home use; computer web cams for home, institutional, commercial or industrial use; video baby monitor and camera systems; digital picture frames |
$3.50 |
| Home theatre in a box (HTB) systems |
HTB audio and video equipment packaged as a complete unit, including: amps, disc players, speakers, sub-woofers and all associated cables, etc. |
$6.00 |
| Vehicle audio & video systems |
aftermarket vehicle audio & video components, including: in-dash CD and/or cassette players, amps, equalizers, speakers, video player systems |
$2.75 |
| Non-cellular telephones and answering machines |
telephones (corded and cordless, VoIP, satellite phones); telephone line answering machines (cassette and digital) |
$0.85 |
| Bundled products have the highest applicable EHFs: for ex., a desktop computer plus a 29" monitor is $15. |
| For more information and specifics of what products are and are not included, see SWEEP's website. |
| NOTE: Where the prices listed here differ from those listed on SWEEP's website, those on SWEEP's website shall be considered correct. |
Collection of used equipment is handled by SARCAN’s 71 recycling depots across the province.
The program is managed by SWEEP, a non-profit corporation established by manufacturers, retailers, and other stakeholders to collect and recycle waste electronics in a responsible manner. The program will follow other provincial recycling models, such as the tire recycling program run by the Sask. Scrap Tire Corporation and the used oil program run by Sask. Association for Resource Recycling Corp.
As always, reuse should be considered before recycling. As SWEEP only recycles, if your old equipment still works, consider donating it to a school or other non-profit organization.
For further information, check out the SWEEP website.
(Source: Dec. 2006 WasteWatch; updated July 2008 & Feb. 2010)
Three Million Pounds of Waste Electronics Collected in First Year
The Saskatchewan Waste Electronic Equipment Program (SWEEP) is celebrating a very successful first year of operation.
Since SWEEP’s inception on February 1, 2007, more than three million pounds of waste electronics have been collected and disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner.
In the past year, the SWEEP program has collected (through returns to SARCAN Recycling):
- 32,500 computers
- 22,500 printers
- 46,500 keyboards & mice
- 1,000 laptops
- 40,000 monitors
- 15,500 televisions
SWEEP is a non-profit corporation established by manufacturers, retailers, and other stakeholders to collect and dispose of waste computers, printers and televisions. The program is funded by Environmental Handling Fees paid on the purchase of new electronic equipment. More information on the program can be found at www.sweepit.ca.
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