Most Canadians get rid of dead batteries, old medication, computer equipment and leftover paint by throwing them in the trash -- despite the environmental and health risks associated with doing so, according to a new Statistics Canada study.
Titled "Disposal of household special wastes," the study compiled information gleaned during the agency's 2006 Households and the Environment Survey, which asked householders how they disposed of the "special waste" items.
The study was based on data from 2005 and released on Thursday.
The study found:
- Only one-quarter of Canadian households used designated depots to return batteries
- Less than half returned expired drugs to a pharmacy
- More than one third of homes were storing old computer waste they didn't know how to dispose of
Canadians' best scores came in disposing used paint: more than half of households used special depots or returned paint cans to suppliers.
According to Adria Vasil, author of "Ecoholic," many Canadians aren't recycling these items because they simply don't know where to take them.
"It's getting better," she told CTV's Canada AM on Thursday. "We definitely have the blue box down pat. It's just (these other items) that we can't quite figure out."
According to Vasil, more than 275,000 tonnes of consumer electronics end up in Canadian landfills every year, slowly seeping cadmium, mercury and lead into the environment.
"One old TV has at least 4 pounds of lead in there," she said.
Most municipalities have special waste depots where consumers can leave these items to be disposed of correctly, she said, noting many electronics outlets will allow customers to return items such as cell phones and rechargeable batteries once they are no longer being used.
Vasil said creative consumers can find many unique ways to safely dispose of special wastes:
- Rechargeable batteries can be taken back to numerous retailers, including Home Depot, Circuit City and Zellers. Non-rechargeable batteries should go to municipal depots
- Computers will often be taken back by manufacturers for recycling, but can also be donated to Reboot Canada, where they will be refurbished and donated to charity
- Medications should be taken back to a pharmacy for proper disposal
- Cell phones can be dropped off at almost any cell phone retailer for proper disposal
- Old paint is best taken to municipal depots
