The City of Owen Sound was ahead of the pack when it opened the Electronics Recycling Depot to residents and businesses in September 2001. Since that time the City has recycled over 320 tonnes of electronic waste through the depot program. However, the rest of the Province has finally caught up and it is time to pass the torch on to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

The new Ontario Electronic Stewardship (OES) Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) program makes it possible for facilities such as the ReStore to collect and sort WEEE for recycling. The City sees this as an opportunity to support Habitat for Humanity by closing the collection location at the Miller Waste Transfer Station and directing all electronics to the ReStore location on Grey Road 11 just south of Highway 26 east of Owen Sound.

The ReStore will be accepting a full range of electronics including computers and peripherals, fax machines, televisions and cell phones. The OES program will ensure that all electronics are recycled to the greatest degree possible and that no WEEE will become a hazard in developing countries.

The ban on disposing of electronics as waste remains in effect and the City anticipates that all residents and businesses will take full advantage of the free electronics drop-off at the ReStore.