Cell phones have scrap value and some can even be reused.  In fact, most phones that are reclaimed can be used again, often in poorer countries where the infrastructure to support wired phones is too costly to build.

96% of the materials in an average cell phone are recyclable, the exception being plastics which are often used as fuel for the smelting process.

CellCycle.ca does one of two things with collected cell phones:

Reuse

Cell phones and components that are reusable are put back to work.  Data and personal information is removed from the old handsets and some of the phones are donated to charities to support people who do not have the means to afford one.

Resource Recovery (Recycling)

Cell phones that do not work or are too old to be of service are broken down for proper recycling.  Batteries are recycled through a not for profit  organization and the phones are sold to domestic refiners who melt them down for resource reclamation.  CellCycle.ca is committed to non-export of electronic waste and as such refuses to deal with companies that do not share values that are in line with the Basel Action Network’s eStewards program.

Resource recovery is less preferred than reuse because of the additional strain it puts on our environment.  For that reason we only recycle cell phones that are no longer of any use.

Money raised through the sale of old cell phones either supports our tree planting project or the various causes of our collectors.