infrastructure to reuse and recycle IT waste is relatively undeveloped in Canada at this time, but is beginning to develop at a rapid pace. As an example of this growth, there were 4 companies in Western Canada until recently who dealt with the recycling of IT waste, but this number has grown to about 25 this year, with increasing need for this type of service. The Canadian infrastructure is considerably less developed than in the US, in part due to our geography and smaller population. The capacity for handling CRTs is particularly low, as it is globally. While processing capabilities are in place, industry has not expressed an interest in conducting a take-back program similar to those operating in the UK or Sweden. IT waste presents a number of challenges because of the complex combination of materials involved (specialized plastics and precious metals). Technologies are available to effectively refurbish and recycle this equipment, therefore many options to disposal are available. Trends in the IT business include a focus on designing IT equipment to facilitate easier dismantling, and a focus on identifying options to recycle CRTs. Recycling and refurbishing of CRT’s is less developed than for other equipment.The IT business in Canada is characterized by numerous suppliers and agents, but relatively little manufacturing directly in Canada. Any manufacturing by large IT companies is carried out in the US or overseas. A number of companies were sending a considerable amount of equipment to China. This market was closed to overseas outlets on 1 April, 2000, which may have significant impacts on a number of the companies in Canada who deal with this waste.At a future date, a complete listing of all companies and organizations in Canada who deal with IT waste should be developed, and a comprehensive survey of all of these companies should be carried out to identify their current operations and capacity and any barriers to increas...
