Cell Phone Recycling Program

The average household has 2 to 3 cell phones awaiting disposal because we tend not to know what to do with them. Green Calgary has a solution for you. We now have a free cell phone recycling program in partnership with Pitch-In Canada whereby Green Calgary receives 25 cents to one dollar for every phone collected. We can accept CELL PHONES and PDAs but cannot accept chargers, ear-pieces, adapters or carrying cases.

Cell Phone Recycling Options:

1) Drop off any old cell phones at The EcoStore – #100 301-14th St NW, Community Natural Foods and all GoodWill Industries in Calgary and Airdrie.

2) Request a cell phone collection box for your office. No charge for requests of 2 boxes or less. A $10 charge will apply to each additional box requested, over 2 boxes.

3) If you would like to get started right away ask us to email you pdf signage for the collection and create your own box or collection area.

For all requests please contact Kate Zago at [403] 230 1443 ext. 228 or email kate@greencalgary.org.

What Happens to the Phones?

Working phones or those that can be refurbished are:

1)    Given to people in shelters to call 911
2)    Given to organ transplant patients
3)    Sent to areas of the world where there are no land lines (in accordance with the Basel Convention)
4)    Reused in domestic markets for low cost prepaid services and in warranty replacement and ‘loaner’ and trial programs

Phones that cannot be fixed are recycled in North America according to electronic waste guidelines.

Did you know?

40 million cell phones are turned over annually.
75% of cell phones are sitting in people's drawer's at home or at the office and end up going to landfills with the average household having 2 to 3 cell phones awaiting disposal.
250,000 tonnes of toxic material from e-waste end up in landfills. Cell phones contain toxic substances such as arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, copper, lead and zinc. Some of these hazardous substances are a serious threat to the environment and public health.
Cell phones use a dull metallic ore called "coltan", this ore is found in major quantities in eastern areas of the Congo and mining occurs in the middle of endangered gorilla and other African animals’ habitats.