What is E-waste Electronic waste (E-waste) is any broken or unwanted electronic device or appliance. E-waste includes electronics such as cellular phones, computers and many other items that are discarded by users each day. Why is E-waste a Problem Electronic devices may contain more than 1,000 different substances including chemicals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, beryllium and zinc. If they are not properly recycled and disposed of, these chemicals could seep into soil, water and air. Such chemicals are potentially dangerous to human and environmental health. By signing this petition you agree to support the Quebec Government implementing an E-waste recycling program. The program should model that of the one implemented by the Alberta Recycling Management Authority. The program will allow the Quebec Government to collect, reuse and recycle electronic products in order to minimize environmental harm and maximize the re-usability of the waste within these products. The program will enable Quebecers to divert hazardous materials, such as lead and mercury, from our landfills to appropriate waste facilities. The funding for the program will come from the collection of an environmental fee (ranging in price from a few dollars to over fifty dollars) depending on the size and potential waste creation of the electronic product. The fee will be collected at the register when the electronic product is purchased for the first time from the retailer. The fee is necessary because it has proven costly, particularly for rural areas, to collect, transport and recycle E-waste. The fees will cover the costs of collection, transportation and recycling of electronic materials as well as to develop education and awareness programs to promote this initiative. For more information, consult the links on the right of the screen.