We’d like to share a new fundraising activity at The Mississauga Food Bank that you could join in with very easily and won’t cost you a thing!
There is a new and profitable way to make money that benefits the environment as well – The Mississauga Food Bank is tackling the growing problem of electronic waste and literally turning it into cash.
The Mississauga Food Bank is participating in the Think Recycle program, which gathers old print cartridges, cameras and cell phones in the community and exchanges them for money. Greentec, the company behind Think Recycle, then collects, processes and recycles the electronics, diverting the electronic waste from local landfill sites.
Over 300 million empty printer cartridges are generated in North America every year, or 900,000,000 pounds of waste that can potentially end up in a landfill. The Think Recycle program has been responsible for the diversion of more than one million cartridges from landfills and has provided nearly $3 million in funding to its participants. More than 20,000 schools in North America participate in the Think Recycle program.
In addition to giving money for these used electronics, Greentec also donates one tree to Tree Canada for every 24 qualifying cell phones or cartridges that The Mississauga Food Bank returns. The Think Recycle program has paid for the planting of more than 50,000 trees, effectively removing 8,700 tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere.
So how can you help?
1. You can drop off old cell phones, digital cameras or laser and ink jet printer cartridges at The Mississauga Food Bank (36-2550 Goldenridge Road) during office hours.
2. Your office or school can set up their own account with Think Recycle, collect your used cell phones, digital cameras or printer cartridges, and have the funds designated to The Mississauga Food Bank. Think Recycle will even provide you with a donation box and promotional materials! All the information is available at www.thinkrecycle.com.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at 905.270.5589 or info@themississaugafoodbank.org.
