Child car seats can now be recycled

NEWS RELEASE
THE CO-OPERATORS
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Every year, an estimated quarter of a million child car seats end up in landfills in Ontario alone. The Co-operators is pleased to announce that its advisors are helping provide an alternative for environmentally-minded local residents. Through a partnership with Green Propeller Recycling, the only not-for-profit child car seat recycling facility in Ontario, old child car seats can now be dropped off at local Co-operators advisors' offices in many Ontario communities to be recycled.

"For decades, the only choice people had to dispose of child car seats that were damaged, expired or which children had outgrown, was to throw it away," said Graham Lewis, founder and executive director of Green Propeller Recycling. "We are working to change that, and by partnering with local Co-operators offices, it is now easier than ever to be part of the solution and keep your child car seats out of landfills."

Green Propeller Recycling is a not-for-profit social enterprise that employs people with barriers to employment to manually deconstruct the used child car seats. This allows the materials to be repurposed to make items such as tote bags, backpacks and reusable steel. The additional drop-off locations announced today represent a very significant expansion of its network in Ontario.

"As an organization committed to making a positive social and environmental impact, we're pleased to support Green Propeller's dual mission of recycling child car seats while providing job opportunities to people who face barriers to employment," said Rob Wesseling, president and CEO of The Co-operators. "People want to do the right thing and recycle their child car seats, and our local advisors are now making it more convenient for them to do that."

In addition to serving as drop-off locations, The Co-operators has made a financial contribution to Green Propeller Recycling. Participating Co-operators advisors' offices are located in the following southern Ontario communities:

Those with child car seats to be recycled are asked to register online at www.greenpropellerrecycling.com, which will then direct them to nearby drop-off locations. For all Co-operators clients, the fee of $15 plus tax to offset the cost of labour will be waived.

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