Recycle My Cell winding down

After nearly 14 years and close to 8 million old and unused cell phones spared from landfills, Recycle My Cell – the first national recycling program of its kind – wound down on December 31, 2022.

Since its launch in February 2009, Recycle My Cell has worked with wireless providers and other partners across Canada to responsibly recycle or refurbish and reuse old and unwanted cell phones.

The entire Recycle My Cell team is proud of everything it has collectively accomplished over the past 14 years. When the program first started, there weren’t many options for cell phone recycling. Working with partners, Recycle My Cell has shown that recycling doesn’t need to be costly or complicated to make a difference. Our program made recycling convenient and easy, and served as a model for others. Fast forward to today, and numerous recycling options are now available.

As of January 1st, anyone looking to recycle a cell phone should check with their wireless service provider, local recycling depot, or their provincial recycling council websites for alternative recycling options and drop-off locations near them. There are also many neighbourhood not-for-profit organizations that can put old but still working devices to good use, including women’s shelters and CNIB’s Phone it Forward program.

Thank you to everyone who recycled a cell phone through the Recycle My Cell program, and please keep recycling!

Please note: The [email protected] email address will remain active for program partners that require further assistance in the weeks ahead.