Environment Canada's knowledgeable specialists answer questions about wildlife, air pollution, water, weather, climate change and other aspects of the environment.

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What does EC do with confiscated materials i.e. elephant ivory?
Ben Lemon, Edmonton, Alberta

When items protected under CITES are discovered to be illegally imported into Canada, they are seized and detained. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement for the protection of certain species of wild animals and plants against over-exploitation as a result of international trade.

Confiscated materials remain in Environment Canada's custody and are stored in warehouses across Canada until a resolution to the case is achieved. Live specimens are housed in zoos, aquariums or botanical gardens. If the items are forfeited and become the property of the Crown, Environment Canada follows strict guidelines for their disposition. All efforts are made to ensure that the conservation objectives of CITES are maintained. The welfare of live specimens is the first priority. No item intended for human consumption, such as traditional medicines, will be transferred to a third party.

Where live specimens are concerned whenever possible attempts are made to return the specimen to the country of origin. If this is not possible or would be too stressful for the plant or animal, the specimen may be donated to a breeding or reintroduction centre. These facilities can contribute to reducing the demand for wild-caught specimens and to reintroducing species that have disappeared from the wild or whose populations have declined. Some plants or animals may be transferred to zoos, aquariums and botanical gardens. Unfortunately, many of these facilities are already at capacity and it is becoming increasingly more difficult to find appropriate places to care for these live plants and animals.

Other items like elephant ivory carvings, tortoise shell jewelry and crocodile products that are forfeited can be used for scientific or educational purposes. Some items are permanently transferred or loaned to museums, educational and research institutions or government agencies. There are public displays of illegal CITES items in major international airports across Canada to alert travellers to the items they should not purchase or attempt to bring into Canada when travelling abroad.

Specimens are destroyed or put down only as a last resort, when all other options have been exhausted. This is not a desired outcome, however, it is sometimes the most humane option available in some circumstances where the animals have suffered terrible conditions during the smuggling attempt or if they have a chronic or highly contagious disease that is incurable and would pose a risk to any captive or wild populations.

Related links:

Purloined Pachyderm Parts Pinched - Canada's Largest Seizure of Illegal Ivory

Our microwave of over 20 years has given up the ghost. How do we dispose of it safely? Garbage has always been an issue with me. We are on a well, and to think we are asked to wash most of our garbage before we can recycle it! What is more important: garbage or water?

The best course of action, with respect to the disposition of your old microwave, is to contact your municipality for advice on local charities, repair outlets and disposal facilities. Charity organizations like Goodwill and the Salvation Army often refurbish used household items for reuse or resale in thrift shops. If these organisations are not able to refurbish your old microwave oven, it will likely become part of the normal waste disposal.

When it comes to washing your recyclable garbage, I understand that water is at a premium, especially when you are on a well. However, as I'm sure you are aware, the issue of our ever increasing garbage dumps and landfills is also of growing concern. We must strike a balance between water conservation and reducing our impact on the environment.

Here are some suggestions I hope you will find helpful:

• It is not necessary to remove labels for recycling.
• To save water, clean only enough to prevent odors.
• If you do your dishes by hand, rinse your recyclables at the end using the old dishwater.
• Run a little water into the sink with the stopper in or a basin, a quick rinse is all you need.

Earth's 911 is a great source of information about recycling programs. You can enter your postal code to look-up community-specific recycling programs. The Internet Consumer Recycling Guide is another good source for information about common and hard-to-recycle-materials.

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