Easy ways to help the environment
The Right Call: The average Canadian keeps their cell phone for only 18-36 months. After that, most toss them in the garbage or store them. Only 12 per cent recycle them.
Cell phones may constitute a relatively small proportion of electronic waste, or e-waste, but that’s no reason for people to ignore this issue.
When electronics are thrown out, they end up in landfills and leach chemicals into the earth. Many of the toxic chemicals found in cell phones – lead, nickel, zinc, arsenic and copper – linger in the environment for a long time without breaking down. Several of them also accumulate in the tissue of plants and animals and build up in the food chain.
With 96 per cent of most cell phones containing recyclable materials, most Canadian wireless providers now offer recycling programs so people can properly dispose of their unused phones.
Each provider has a different program. Some donate money to environmental organizations or food banks for each phone recycled while others give the usable phones to shelters for abused women or youth in need.
Before donating your phone, be sure that all of your personal data has been deleted off the device. You can also donate chargers and accessories for your phone since they are recyclable as well.
For more information and to see where you can recycle your phone, visit: recyclemycell.ca
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