Skip to content

Have an old cell phone (or two) in your junk drawer? New program will recycle it

The Guelph Tool Library's new 'Good Call' cell phone recycling program will offer the used cell phones to people in need
110718-text-teen-mobile-phone-cell-online-AdobeStock_111410623
stock photo

A new program which aims to recycle used cell phones is being launched next month by the Guelph Tool Library.

The Good Call cell phone recycling program will take in older and broken cell phones for recycling, while newer working phones will be distributed to people experiencing a financial barrier to phone ownership.

The Guelph Tool Library was approached with the idea of a cell phone recycling program, said John Dennis, who is coordinator for the program.

“The average person has two or three phones just kicking around in a drawer in their house,” said Dennis. “They may not know what to do with them.”

The Guelph Tool Library has partnered with Lakeside HOPE House and Chalmers Community Service Centre to distribute newer phones to people in need.

“We have been told by our partners that for many people living in precarious positions, the loss of a cell phone can be devastating,” said Dennis. 

Many people trade up to a newer model of phone after their two or three-year contract is up.

“It seems to me to be a waste if it just sits in someone’s drawer when someone else can use it,” said Dennis.

He said he is hoping to sign on other local partners who work with people in need to distribute the used phones to.

Phones which require minor repairs before they are redistributed can be done through the Guelph Tool Library’s Repair Cafe.

“If a cell phone is damaged or broken, it means being cut off from friends, family, and support. We hope that by repairing and putting slightly older phones back into service, we can help those that need the phones the most,” said Dennis.

Whether a phone is newer or older, Dennis is asking people to wipe it clean of user data and remove the SIM card. He is pointing people to an unrelated web site that offers instructions on how to wipe the data from a number of different phone brands.

The Guelph Tool Library and Repair Cafe are projects of Transition Guelph, which seeks to promote processes and projects for strengthening community resilience and economic vitality.

Phones that are older or broken will go to the Toronto Zoo for recycling through its Phone Apes Recycling Program.

The mining of coltan, a mineral processed into tantalum for cell phone manufacturing, puts pressure on the habitat of lowland gorillas. By recycling old phones, the tantalum can be reused and the demand to mine coltan is lessened.

One benefit of the Toronto Zoo program, said Dennis, is the materials are audited and stay in Canada, not dumped in a third-world country.

“We shouldn’t be dumping our garbage there,” he said of the idea of electronic waste being sent overseas.

The program kicks off on Dec. 5 at the Bookshelf Cinema, which will coincide with a showing of a documentary called Terra Blight. The film examines the problem of electronic waste.

After the film a speaker form the Toronto Zoo will answer questions about the Phone Apes Recycling Program.

Tickets are $20 at the Guelph Tool Library and through Eventbrite.  All proceeds will go to support the program.

After Dec. 5, the used cell phones can be dropped off at the three Planet Bean Coffee Shops, 10C Shared Space, Grange Hill East Neighbourhood Group, the offices of John F Ross CVI, GCVI, and Centennial CVI, and the Guelph Tool Library. 

Additional drop off locations will be added and can be found on the Guelph Tool Library's web site.


Comments

Verified reader

If you would like to apply to become a verified commenter, please fill out this form.