Hatters recycle their electronic waste
Residents were given the opportunity to properly dispose of their electronic waste Saturday thanks to the Medicine Hat Police Service and Redi Recycling.
The groups come together every year to offer the service as a way of educating and helping Hatters.
“Our electronic recycling event is something we do every year,” said Sgt. Mike Fischer. “We’re trying to get as many people as possible to bring their electronic equipment down here to Redi, and to make sure any personal information on those electronics is destroyed.”
Fischer says the event has grown every year, which is a good thing in his eyes.
“Even in the first hour or so here, we saw more people than we did all of last year,” he said. “Seeing more and more people every year is a good thing, obviously.
“I think it’s really easy to forget how much information we have on some of our electronics. Having that information getting in the hands of the wrong people can be really dangerous.”
Fischer says the event is also great for the environment.
“We do this for Mother Nature,” he said. “There’s a lot of stuff here that can often just be tossed in the trash or taken to the landfill.
“I know it gives some people a real sense of relief knowing that their devices got disposed of properly.”
Fischer says identity theft is a very real issue in 2018, and events like this one are made to fight crimes like identity theft.
“We live in a society where people will get entirely new phones if they even just crack their screen,” he said. “Electronics need to be wiped clean or shredded completely, or else people will get their hands on your information.
“Redi has these bins out all year for people to drop their electronics off, and I think it’s a great idea to make use of them.”