On Friday, March 15, Edmonton's Eco Stations celebrated our 2 millionth customer.
Thank you for keeping 16,093,483 litres of household hazardous waste out of the landfill!
The festivities haven't stopped.
Eco Stations will give away 2 million carrot seeds this year!
items in good condition à Reuse Area at Ambleside Eco Station
battery acid à used to produce expanded polystyrene
Thank you for keeping 16,093,483 litres of household hazardous waste out of the landfill!
How did we celebrate?
Watch: Councillor Don Iveson congratulates the 2 millionth customer |
| Councillor Don Iverson presents Gilda Valli with her gift |
Eco Stations will give away 2 million carrot seeds this year!
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| Garry, Gilda, and Don show off their carrot seeds |
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| Garry showing 2 million carrot seeds, representing the 2 millionth customer to Eco Stations |
What happens to things you bring to the Eco Station?
Reused
usable paint à segregated, stored for Paint Exchange
Recycled
glycol (antifreeze) à reconditioned into new antifreeze
fluorescent tubes à crushed using a bulb crusher and processed at Custom Environmental facilities
PCB lamp ballasts à reclaimable components are recycled, the rest sent for incineration
dry-cell batteries à sent to Toxco and recycled
wet-cell batteries (e.g.ca r & truck batteries)
wet-cell batteries (e.g.
plastic ca sing à recycled into new battery casings
lead cores à recycled into new lead cores
rechargeable batteries à recycled
motor oil/oil filters à recycled by oil recycler
scrap metal (includes empty paint ca ns) à recycled by loca l scrap metal dealer
white goods (e.g. freezers, fridges, coolers) à hazardous components removed; remainder recycled
aerosol cans (partially full) à contents evacuated & recycled/disposed, ca nisters are recycled
propane/butane cylinders à contents evacuated & recycled/disposed, canisters are recycled
Composted
yard waste à sent to IPTF and composted.
Safely Disposed
unusable paint à sent to Alberta Special Waste Management Treatment Centre (Swan
Hills)
large/bulky items in poor condition àsent to IPTF and landfilled
non-recyclable HHW & prescription medication à sent to Alberta Special Waste Management Treatment Centre (Swan
Hills)
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| Eco Station attendant holds a phone which will be sent to GEEP for electronic recycling |
My Favourite Things About Eco Stations
- They keep household hazardous waste out of our garbage. That's especially important since organic waste is separated from garbage and composted.
- They make it possible to recycle electronics, batteries, motor oil, unusable paint, scrap metal, freezers, fridges, propane and butane cylinders, fluorescent tubes, and more!
- Free stuff! You can find free paint at all Eco Stations. It's salvaged from usable paint dropped off by residents. The Reuse Area at Ambleside Eco Station saves household items in good condition from landfill.
History in a Nutshell
- Eco Stations have been accepting Edmonton's computers, batteries, paint cans, couches, and much more from residents since 1995.
- Strathcona and Coronation Eco Stations are converted spaces. They were originally used as transfer stations (where waste was taken, sorted, and moved again).
- Ambleside was the first purpose-built Eco Station. Lessons learned from the existing facilities helped in the design of a super Eco Station. It boasts a Reuse Area, lots of room to drop-off, natural light, and beautiful art.
- Planning is under way for a fourth Eco Station, to serve communities in Northeast Edmonton.