VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - June 8, 2010) -

Editors Note: There is a photo associated with this press release.

Student art submissions that best expressed the impact of 30,000 tonnes of electronic waste were awarded prizes today by government and recycling industry representatives. The display is open to the public throughout the week at SFU Harbour Centre.

The Electronic Stewardship Association of British Columbia (ESABC) challenged elementary and high school students to show through sculpture and posters the impact that obsolete computers, monitors, printers and fax machines can have on our planet, if not recycled responsibly. The 30,000 Tonne Challenge represents the amount of electronics that industry, through ESABC, has recycled responsibly since the program started in 2007. Based on a per capita weight of 3.1 kilograms per person, ESABC has achieved one of the highest rates of e-waste diversion in North America in just over two years.

"These students understand the importance of keeping e-waste out of landfills, both in BC and in developing countries," says Joyce Thayer, ESABC's Executive Director. "This art display creatively demonstrates the importance of e-waste industry stewardship. For instance, I was surprised to learn that 30,000 tonnes of e-waste is the equivalent weight of 28,000 African elephants, or 833 gray whales."

The Honourable Mary McNeil, Minister of State for the Olympics and ActNow BC, and Sandy Sigmund from Encorp Pacific – ESABC's program manager, were in attendance to congratulate the winners.

Entries came from Sutherland Secondary in North Vancouver, Port Moody Secondary and Agassiz Centre for Education. Judging criteria included originality, clarity of message, motivational content and technical quality.

E-waste Return-It™ depots cover 97 percent of the Province, and the type of electronics accepted for recycling is being expanded this year.

ESABC has adopted and applied the stringent recycling qualification process developed by Electronic Product Stewardship Canada (EPSC). EPSC's Recycling Vendor Qualifications Program has been recognized internationally as holding recyclers to an exemplary environmental standard.

PRIZES

• First: Dell™ Inspiron Mini 10V Netbook with software package with an approximate retail value of $500.00. Donated by Dell Canada.

• Second: Flip UltraHD 120 Camcorder with an approximate retail value of $300.00

• Third: Canon SD1200 IS compact digital camera with an approximate retail value of $225.00.

1^st Place – Sculpture (joint submission)

• M. Phillips and S. Elliot, Sutherland Secondary ('Butterfly')

2^nd Place – Sculpture

• R. Zirk, Sutherland Secondary ('Tangled elephants')

3^rd Place – Sculpture

• D. Burtch, Agassiz Centre for Education ('Computer with fan')

1^st Place – Poster

• Y. Jin, Sutherland Secondary ('Please don't destroy my home')

2^nd Place – Poster

• T. Shipley, Sutherland Secondary ('28,000 Adult African elephants')

3^rd Place – Poster (tie)

• J. Yoo, Port Moody Secondary ('Planet calling for Help') & E. Shojaci, Sutherland Secondary ('Stop e-waste')

About the Electronic Stewardship Association of BC

ESABC is a not for profit association representing brand owners, manufacturers and other stakeholders that are committed to collecting and recycling electronic waste in an environmentally responsible manner. As British Columbia's leading provider of environmentally sound and socially responsible management practices for end‐of‐life electronic products, ESABC's goal is to divert end‐of‐life electronics from export or landfill in accordance with local, provincial and federal requirements. Based on a per capita weight of 3.1 kilos, ESABC has achieved one of the highest rates of e-waste diversion in North America in just over two years. For more information visit www.esabc.ca.

To view the photo associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20100608-0608esabc.jpg

NOTE: High-res photos of winning entries are available.