How to Recycle Your Phone

[dru]

How To Recycle Your Phone

Consider recycling that spare phone in your junk drawer. Here are some resources on how to safely dispose of them.

Before you part with your device, here are a few things to consider:

1. The phone must be deactivated. Remove all personal information, and remove the SIM card if it has one.
2. Factory reset your device (this will delete all other content on your device).
3. Phones can't be reclaimed once handed over.
4. Items are sent to a third-party recycling vendor, who will recycle the phones responsibly.
5. As a partner and proud supporter of Tree Canada, TELUS will plant a tree for every phone recycled.

For most of Canada, bring any mobile phone, battery, or accessory, irrespective of carrier, to your nearest participating TELUS Trade-In location for recycling.

There are recycling programs in your province that work in partnership with local government so that you can drop off your device(s) easily.

Also, as suggested by a community member in the comments section below, consider donating it to organizations that can repurpose the device for a good cause! Thanks for the idea, @xray! 

Alberta

https://www.alberta.ca/recyclinghttps://www.recyclemycell.ca/

British Columbia

https://www.return-it.ca/locations/

Manitoba

https://www.recyclemyelectronics.ca/mb/

New Brunswick

https://www.recyclemyelectronics.ca/nb/

Newfoundland

https://www.recyclemyelectronics.ca/

Northwest Territories

https://www.enr.gov.nt.ca/en/services/electronics-recycling-program

Nova Scotia

https://www.recyclemyelectronics.ca/

Ontario

https://www.recyclemyelectronics.ca/on/

Prince Edward Island

https://www.recyclemyelectronics.ca/

Quebec

https://www.recyclemyelectronics.ca/qc/

Saskatchewan

https://www.saskwastereduction.ca/recycle/db?location=All+Locations&materials=Cell+Phones

https://www.recyclemyelectronics.ca/sk/

Yukon

https://yukon.ca/en/waste-and-recycling/recycling/what-can-i-recycle-and-where

Know of any other ways to safely recycle your device? Share your tips in the comment section below!

[xray]

Consider donating your phone if it's in working condition.

CNIB has a program that provides cells phones loaded with accessible apps to people with sight loss.

https://www.phoneitforward.ca/

[dru]

@xray That's a FANTASTIC idea! I hadn't considered organizations that would re-purpose devices for a great cause but this is a great example 🙂

[NFtoBC]

Women's shelters as well. Often folks at shelters need a new number as well as a replacement phone.

[xray]

Great idea. Keep in mind that women's shelters aren't staffed to repair or configure phones. If you donate a phone it has to be ready to go at the factory setup stage. Throw in a charger and cable too if possible.