A Prince George resident said he was shocked to see how University Hospital of Northern B.C. disposes of its electronic waste.
Don Buchanan said on Tuesday he saw two young staff members bring a dolly full of computers, including monitors, to a dumpster and drop them into it.
"Those things are full of mercury and PCBs and should never be broken. It was obvious they had no training on how to handle the stuff," said Buchanan, who was walking his dogs at the time.
A Northern Health official said all hospital equipment disposal is done through policies that eliminate any hazardous or privacy concerns.
Eryn Collins, Northern Health communications officer, said there are clear policies in place for disposal of hospital materials from medical to office to electronics.
"In the case of electronics, we first look look for a new home for it, and when we can't find one we destroy it to the point it can't be used. It's decommissioned and then disposed of," said Collins.
She added recycling depots don't accept some electronics and have to be disposed of in the landfill site. She said the decommissioning process includes eliminating all privacy and hazardous concerns.
Buchanan said he can't understand why the hospital wouldn't store such waste and call a recycling firm to come and get it.
"You'd think these organizations could find somebody or someplace that could use such equipment."
Rachel Ryder, waste diversion program leader with Fraser-Fort George Regional District, said the region has no ban or regulations on disposing of electronic equipment.
"We certainly encourage people to recycle equipment such as computers, keyboard, monitors and televisions through proper channels like BBK Depot," she said.
"People can go onto the site at encorp.ca to find out what products are accepted."
She said in the hospital's case, the dumpster containing the equipment would likely be picked up by a contractor and probably end up in the Foothill's landfill site where it will disposed of with other garbage.
