“With the cooperation of the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association, we will offer residents of Prince Edward Island a chance to make sure that old cell phones are recycled, reused or properly disposed of. We’re happy to partner with an industry taking responsibility for the full life cycle of its products,” said Minister Brown.

The Island’s effort forms part of a national program which lets users find out where and how to properly dispose of their cell phones and other wireless devices – regardless of carrier, brand or condition – at www.RecycleMyCell.ca. The free program is organized by the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) in conjunction with cell phone service providers, handset manufacturers and recycling companies.

The goal of this program is to raise awareness about the importance of cell phone recycling and keep handsets from entering Canada’s landfills. Proceeds from the recycled wireless devices go to benefit many local and national charities.

“Canada’s wireless industry greatly appreciates the Government of PEI’s confidence and recognition of our commitment to the environment,” said CWTA President and CEO Bernard Lord. “We look forward to many successful years of this new partnership and the valuable benefits it will bring to the Island’s communities.”

Users can find cell phone recycling drop-off locations by entering a postal code at www.RecycleMyCell.ca or calling 1-888-797-1740 for more information. This generates a list of the 10 closest cell phone recycling drop-off sites. For those who can’t visit one of these drop-off locations in person, the website provides a postage-paid label that can be printed, as well as instructions for clearing devices of all personal data before drop-off at a recycling site.

Many different items are accepted for recycling, including cell phones, smartphones, pagers, aircards, batteries, chargers and accessories. After the device is received, it is sent to a recycling plant where it can be taken apart for scrap or be refurbished. Proceeds from the sale of refurbished phones and scrap materials are donated to numerous national and local charities. All of the recycling companies involved with the Recycle My Cell program are ISO 14001:2004 certified, meaning they have an environmental management system in place which ensures accountability and knowledge of the associated environmental impacts.

Recycle My Cell is made possible with participation from: Bell, GREENTEC, KYOCERA, Motorola, MTS, Nokia, ReCellular, Inc., Research In Motion, Rogers Communications Inc., Samsung, SaskTel, Sony Ericsson, TbayTel, TELUS and Virgin Mobile Canada.

Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA)

CWTA is the authority on wireless issues, developments and trends in Canada. It represents cellular, PCS, messaging, mobile radio, fixed wireless and mobile satellite carriers as well as companies that develop and produce products and services for the industry. (www.cwta.ca)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why should I recycle my mobile device?

There are several reasons why recycling your mobile device makes sense. Needless to say, by recycling your device, you are doing something positive for your local ecosystem. By mailing or dropping off your mobile device at a recycling location, you divert waste from your local landfills and help the environment. By recycling your wireless device, you also decrease the need for raw materials that would otherwise be needed for manufacturing new products. Your donation also generates revenue which is distributed to various charitable organizations across Canada.

What kinds of products are accepted through the program?

Our partners accept all mobile devices which connect to a cellular or paging network, including cell phones, smartphones, external aircards and pagers. In addition, headsets, chargers and other accessories are accepted.

What kinds of products are NOT accepted through the program?

We do not accept cordless phones, PDAs, laptop computers or answering machines. Your community should have recycling programs in place for these items.

What brands and models are accepted?

Any mobile device – regardless of brand, model, age – can be donated at any collection site or through our mail-back option.

What if my mobile device doesn’t work?

Both working and non-working mobile devices are accepted. Non-working phones contain the same reusable materials as working phones and should be disposed of in a similar manner.

How many cell phones are currently being recycled?

Last year, more than 300,000 used wireless devices were collected through recycling programs in Canada.

Does recycling my mobile device cost me anything?

There is no fee or charge to consumers for recycling their wireless devices.

Recycle My Cell is currently funded by: Bell, GREENTEC, KYOCERA, Motorola, MTS, Nokia, ReCellular, Inc., Research In Motion, Rogers Communications Inc., Samsung, SaskTel, TELUS, and Virgin Mobile Canada.

Where can I drop off my mobile device?

To determine the nearest drop-off location, visit our Web site at www.recyclemycell.ca.

What happens to my mobile device once I drop it off?

Your device (and its accessories) is sent to a recycling facility where it can be refurbished or dismantled for scrap, depending on the model and its condition. The scrap materials are then used to produce new mobile devices and a variety of other items like kitchen kettles, park benches, dental fillings or even musical instruments.

Who benefits from the wireless devices returned through the various recycling programs?

A donation to participating charities is made for each device returned through the various recycling programs. Some of the charities benefiting from the recycling programs include the World Wildlife Fund, Tree Canada, Canadian food banks and many other local charities across the country.

Some carriers offer refurbished phones in their stores. Are these phones that were collected through the Recycle My Cell Program?

In some cases, they could be. However, a donation is made to the participating charity whether or not a returned device can be refurbished or sent to a recycling facility. Remember that part of the green movement is also to REUSE.

How can I ensure my personal information is safe?

After copying any information you might need from your old device, remember to reset its memory before you drop it off at a recycling location. You can use the Cell Phone Data Eraser by ReCellular Inc., available for free on the Recycle My Cell Web site to help ensure your data has been cleared.

How do I know my wireless device will be handled and processed in an environmentally-conscious way?

All of the recyclers involved with our program are ISO 14001:2004 certified, meaning they have an environmental management system in place which ensures accountability and knowledge of the associated environmental impacts.