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Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What Happens to the Collected Cell Phones that are Re-Usable?

    Cell phones that are still in working order or can be reused are cleaned and new display screens or lenses may be installed.

    Some phones require repair, remanufacture or replacement of internal components including the antenna, circuit boards and receiver as well as the transmitter components or external parts such as the keys, buttons and/or controls.

    All phones are tested for electrical and communication performance and new or refurbished batteries may be installed.

    Other phones are re-used for pre-paid services in North America or as warranty or insurance replacement handsets.

  2. What Happens to the Collected Cell Phones that Cannot be Re-Used?

    Batteries are separated from the handset and sent to a specialized, permitted facility (in Canada, or the United States) for the recovery of various metals including nickel, cadmium and lead for reuse in new products.

    Broken handsets and ones that are too old for reuse are shredded and processed at one of several smelters in Canada or the United States for the recovery of copper and the trace amounts of precious metals in the circuit board.

    The plastic cases that cannot be easily or economically recycled (because of contamination from labels, stickers, metals and incompatible polymers) are used as a source of thermal energy for fuel for the smelter process.

    The recovered metals are refined for purification and are reused in new copper wire and cable, jewelry, automotive catalytic converters, new electronic equipment and many other products.

  3. What Type of Cell Phone can be Donated?

    Project Redial® accepts each and every cell phone handset (handheld, portable, wireless phone) regardless of brand, age, condition, technology or operating system.  Every cell phone donated generates a financial contribution to the Canadian Diabetes Association.

  4. What About Other Wireless Equipment?

    Project Redial® also accepts all personal digital assistants (PDAs, like Treo and Blackberry) or ‘handhelds’.

    However, there are many products that are related to cell phones or can be easily mistaken for a cell phone handset that the program does not accept , including:

    Car-phones (the ‘hard wired’ cell phones that used to be mounted in the car)

    Bag phones ( the early version of a cell phone which came in a ‘bag’ or large case)

    Pagers

    Landline (regular) phones

    Walkie-talkies (2 way radios)

    Cordless phones(Handsets can be mistaken for cell phones)

  5. Should I Donate my Phone’s Accessories and Battery?

    We would prefer that you not donate the charger, car adaptor or headset accessories.  Why?  Battery chargers are often not usable in other countries where the electrical standards are different than in Canada and there is little reuse potential for used chargers or 12v car adaptors.  Generally, these items often lose functionality and cannot easily be refurbished or remanufactured. There are a number of municipalities that offer metal recycling or electronic hardware collection or drop-off programs that can take these items. BUT, if you do not have any local recycling option available, send the accessories and we will ensure that they are recycled responsibly.

    As for the owner’s manual, leather cases and belt clips, these are not usually suitable for reuse and many of these can easily be recycled locally in paper, fibre and plastics recycling or blue-box programs.

    Include the battery that is attached and powers your cell phone when you donate the handset. Please note that you are not required to include the battery and even if it has been lost, is not available or has been separated from the handset, the Canadian Diabetes Association will still receive the financial contribution for the donated handset without the battery.

  6. Why Should Cell Phones be Recycled?

    • An easy and convenient way to help the Canadian Diabetes Association raise funds
      • The Canadian Diabetes Association receives a monetary contribution for EACH AND EVERY cell phone donated – old or new, broken or in working condition
    • Helps Protect Our Environment - by eliminating solid and toxic waste which can enter our landfills if the cell phones are not recycled, reused or properly disposed of
      • Cell phones and their rechargeable batteries contain many hazardous and toxic materials
    • Recover valuable and reusable resources – parts, components, metals and plastics

    • Put inactive cell phones to better use

      • Environment Canada’s National Office of Pollution Prevention has completed a study that highlights the rapid increase in the growth of “end-of-life” electronics equipment as a waste problem because of the hazardous and toxic materials this equipment contains. Cellular phones and rechargeable batteries are examples of “electronic or ‘e-waste’” which should be diverted from disposal.

      INFORM Inc., a New York-based environmental research firm has published a comprehensive study that specifically deals with waste from wireless and cellular equipment: “Waste In The Wireless World-The Challenge Of Cell Phones”. The report not only describes the toxic nature of wireless equipment, but also emphasizes the huge quantity of these products being stockpiled in our homes and offices – a disposal ‘time bomb” waiting to happen!

    • Can my Donation Help Make a Difference?

      • The number of cell phone service subscribers continues to rise in Canada
        • Over 1 in 2 Canadians - more than 15 million - now have a cell phone and more are expected in the coming years

        • The number of wireless subscribers is forecast to grow to over 20 million in the next 2 or 3 years!
      • 7 to 8 million new cell phones are sold in Canada every year
        • About ¾ of these are new replacements for old and currently ‘in-use’ handsets
          • Mostly to phase out old ‘analogue’ service and for new features such as colour graphics, camera and video phones, text messaging, mobile Internet access and smart phones with data access
          • Most used phones are simply thrown away or are ‘hibernating’ in desk drawers and the back of closets and cupboard
          • There has been little to no effort to collect or recycle these phones in Canada and more than 50 million used cell phones could be stockpiled in Canadian homes and offices

      Source:  Canadian Wireless Telecommunication Association