Recycling Your Cellphone In Ottawa Just Got Easier
As technology advances, cell phones are constantly changing. With so many different types of mobile devices currently being produced, it’s challenging to think about what to do with our old and outdated phones. See more about what you can do with outdated phones on this page here.
These devices were a rare commodity primarily used by government officials and business people. However, as mass production began and technological advances were made, people started getting phones quickly, and they kept upgrading to better and faster models each year. So, what happens with the older units?
Fortunately, you can find companies in Ottawa that are recycling old phones. They still contain a lot of plastics, copper, and metals, and the process of recycling will decrease emissions of greenhouse gasses to the environment.
Benefits to Know About
When you recycle your old cell phone, you are helping the environment and saving money in the process. Other advantages are the following:
- Reduce the number of toxic materials in landfills.
- Help decrease energy consumption.
- Your old cell phone can be recycled into new products that people or schools can use.
- Lessen the amount of electronic waste that is produced each year.
Many people are getting newer devices at least once every 24 months. The next time you decide to upgrade, it’s best to go to a local center in Ottawa to donate your used mobile. The best cellphone recycling in Ottawa may donate usable ones to low-income individuals. This will provide them access to the internet and allow them to attend schools remotely.
Other manufacturers like Apple may recycle your old devices through the Renew program. In the year 2015 alone, the company recycled more than 85 million pounds worth of waste. They have recovered over 23 million lbs. of plastic, 22 million lbs. of steel, and about 11 lbs. of glasses. Other recovered materials were considered valuable, and they included 2,205 lbs. of gold, 6600 lbs. of silver, and nearly 3 million lbs. of copper.
All recovered products and metals can be recycled and used for new phones. The metals can be used for automotive manufacturing, electronics production, and jewelry-making. The plastics are used for auto parts, garden furniture, and new electronic devices.
About the Process
Cleaning your drawers from old electronic devices and contributing to a sustainable project is possible in Ottawa. You might want to visit a website where the representatives can schedule a pick-up request of the phone from your home, and they can provide you with certificates. The entire process is easy and straightforward as long as you get in touch with the right people. You should consider recycling old desktop computers and laptops that may just be lying around in your home.
The best companies will destroy your data from your hard drives and devices to protect your privacy. You also need to back everything up before you decide to recycle your devices. See more about the process of recycling here.
Other things to do:
- First, consult your local recycling center’s website or call them to find out what type of materials they accept. Many centers will also estimate how much material your old phone contains, and it’s totally up to you to proceed.
- Next, remove any batteries and SIM cards from the phone.
- Remove any plastic wrap, packaging, or accessories from the phone.
- Sort the material by type: metals (such as brass and copper), plastics, glass (including broken pieces), and paper/cardboard (including shredded envelopes).
- Place all types of material into appropriate piles according to their weight and toxicity.
- Take pictures of each pile and send them to the company.
Some Things to Remember
Like most people, you probably don’t think too much about what goes into the recycling process. However, by recycling your old cell phone, you can help to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and pollutes our environment. Other companies can pay or offer you cashback when you decide to recycle the cases, batteries, cords, cables, and other devices.
Others will have collection events and environmental programs in Ottawa, so make sure to check them out. These companies make it easy for everyone to participate. When they organize an e-waste collection, this is the best time for you to purge your storage rooms of older mobile devices, LED TVs, printers, and ink cartridges that you no longer use.
