Earth Day at McMaster

It's Earth Day and McMaster is doing its part for the environment with a number of initiatives taking place today and over the next few weeks.

The Office of Sustainability, in collaboration with Facility Services, Media Production Services and University Technology Services, will be collecting outdated technological devices, including computers, printers, scanners and fax machines, at two locations on campus today. From 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. McMaster community members can drop off equipment that can be reused or recycled by others at the grassy mall across from the Burke Science Building or in the lobby of the Ewart Angus Centre. There will also be a collection area in the lobby of the McMaster Downtown Centre.

The collection, reuse and recycling of technological devices has become an important area of focus because the devices contain harmful chemicals and can be costly to maintain.

At the end of the Earth Day event McMaster's Facility Services and Waste Services Inc. will pick up all leftover electronic devices which will be fully recycled.

Those living in the area surrounding the University will be able to place unwanted items at the curb for pickup by others on April 24 and May 1. On April 26 and May 3 the City of Hamilton will conduct large item pickups in the Ainslie Wood and Westdale areas.

May 4 will see staff, faculty, students and members of the community pitch-in to clean up trash in the area. Volunteers will meet at 3:45 p.m. in the Student Centre and return at 6 p.m. for refreshments and giveaways.

For more information on any of these activities, contact Kate Whalen, manager of University Sustainability, at whalenk@mcmaster.ca.