In an age where electronic devices are indispensable to daily life, recycling electronic waste has become essential to conserving resources and reducing pollution. Continuing their long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship, the 6th Meadowvale Scouts (Buddha’s Light Toronto Scouts) held their annual E-Waste Recycling Day on November 9 in the parking lot behind Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto.

Coinciding with the season’s first snowfall, nearly twenty Scouts and leaders braved the wind and cold to collect and sort large quantities of discarded electronics. Venerable Ru Zhong and Venerable Zhi Guan, Superintendents of FGS Toronto, joined the effort along with all monastics, embodying the Buddhist spirit of compassion and service through action.

As snow covered the temple grounds, the Scouts arrived early to shovel pathways and setup wind barriers. Working in teams, they unloaded two full truckloads of electronic waste collected by Venturer Leader Jackson Langat, carefully stacking each item into the recycling bins. The falling snow quietly witnessed their warm-hearted dedication.

Throughout the day, temple members and local residents drove through the snow to drop of fold televisions, printers, computers, and other electronic items. The monastics also helped move outdated temple equipment, encouraging the Scouts’ teamwork and perseverance.

From morning until late afternoon, the recycling containers gradually filled with everything from copiers and laptops to keyboards and cables. Items still in usable condition, such as camera bags and accessories, were set aside for reuse—giving them new life while reducing waste.

Meanwhile, the younger Beaver and Cub Scouts learned how to sort and categorize recyclable materials, gaining a deeper appreciation for environmental protection and sustainable living.

At the close of the event, Venturer Leader Jackson Langat encouraged everyone to live by the 4Rs—Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle—as a way to care for the Earth. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to all leaders, Scouts, and community members who, despite the snow and cold, came together to serve with compassion and unity, making the world a little greener, one act at a time.

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