Cable / Telecom News

What’s in your drawers? Recycle those old devices for Earth Day

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OTTAWA – The country’s free cell phone recycling program Recycle My Cell is calling on Canadians to join in the Earth Day celebrations Wednesday by making sure that all those old cell phones in their junk drawers are recycled responsibly.

Earth Day also marks the launches of Recycle My Cell's "What in Your Drawers?" community challenges in Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador. Non-profit and community organizations in those provinces are challenged to collect as many old cell phones as possible between April 22 and May 22, 2015, and the group in each province that collects the most wireless devices will receive a $500 prize. Click here to register and for more information.

According to the 2014 National Cell Phone Recycling Study, released this week, two in five Canadians (40%) stored their old handset when a new cell phone is obtained; 22% gave it away or sold it; 10% recycled it; 9% returned it to a store or their cell phone company; and 5% threw it away in the garbage.

Recycle My Cell offers more than 3,600 drop-off locations across Canada.  Canadians can visit the bilingual website and enter their postal code to locate the 10 drop-off locations closest to them where their old wireless devices will be accepted, regardless of brand or condition. The site also offers printable postage-paid labels that can be used to mail the device if a consumer cannot get to one of the drop-off locations in their neighborhood.

The free program is run by the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA), in conjunction with cell phone carriers, handset manufacturers, and approved processors who have come together to raise awareness about the importance of cell phone recycling.

"Thinking green doesn't need to be complicated, and keeping old cell phones out of our landfills couldn't be easier," said CWTA president and CEO Bernard Lord, in the news release.  "I encourage all Canadians to celebrate Earth Day by taking a few moments to reflect on some of the simple things they can do to help protect the environment for future generations."

Other key findings from the 2014 National Cell Phone Recycling Study include:

– 875,366 wireless devices were recovered in 2014;

– On average, Canadians had used their current phone for nearly two years (21 months);

– Canadians had owned on average three or four cell phones prior to their current one; and

 – Half of Canadians (50%) were aware of recycling programs for cell phones.

Businesses and community organizations can also support the Recycle My Cell program by hosting a drop-off location year-round. Registration is quick and easy, and pre-paid shipping and promotional materials are provided at no cost. Click here for more information.

Recycle My Cell’s partners include: Bell, BlackBerry, Eastlink, GEEP Inc., Google, GREENTEC, LG Electronics Canada, Lynx Mobility, Microsoft, MTS, Nokia, ProMobility, Rogers Communications, Samsung Electronics Canada, SaskTel, Sony of Canada, TBayTel, Telus, Videotron and Virgin Mobile Canada.

www.RecycleMyCell.ca

www.Recyclemoncell.ca