MONTREAL – Telus and the Montreal Science Centre announced Monday that they are partnering to encourage people to give their old mobile devices for repair, recycling and refurbishing.
Telus said it has recycled or upcycled over 3.5 million devices since 2005, and uses its subsidiary Mobile Klinik to do the job. Quebec residents can drop off their old devices at any eligible Telus store.
Refurbished devices are then available for purchase from Telus backed by a one-year warranty. If the devices cannot be refurbished, they are then recycled.
“Research suggests that buying a refurbished device helps protect the environment by preventing over 75 kilograms of carbon emissions and the mining of nearly 450 kilograms of raw materials”, Nathalie Dionne, Telus’s vice president for home solutions and customer experience in Quebec, said in the release.
“We’re proud to join forces with our long-time partner, the Montreal Science Centre, to raise visitors’ awareness of the importance of the circular economy in efforts to protect our planet,” Dionne added. “These actions support our commitment to reduce our carbon footprint and become a zero-waste, carbon-neutral company by 2030.”
The entities held an educational event on July 2 and invited Montrealers and out-of-town visitors to drop off their old devices for a free ticket to the Science Centre and to “take part in environmental protection workshops in order to educate youth and parents about the benefits of the circular economy,” according to a press release, adding only 14 per cent of Quebec residents have ever bought a used device.
