Frequently Asked Questions

Who or what is recycleyourelectronics.ca?
Recycleyourelectronics.ca is the program in Ontario responsible for diverting electronic waste in Ontario operated by Ontario Electronic Stewardship (“OES”). It is also a searchable website that enables postal code, community or item lookup for where and how to reuse or recycle unwanted or out-of-date electronics in a safe and convenient manner.
Why manage end-of-life technology?
Like tin cans and newspaper, unwanted electronics should never end up in the garbage. Much of the plastic and metal in computers and TVs, for example, can be reclaimed and used to make everything from irrigation piping to coins. As well, many older electronics contain substances of concern that, if not handled properly, could have environmental impacts and cause health and safety issues. An estimated 66 per cent of waste electronics in Ontario comes from non-residential sources, making diversion by business critical to reducing the overall amount of e-waste sent to landfill.
Where are the OES-approved collection locations?
There are hundreds of approved permanent and event-based collectors across the province to choose from; municipal, not-for-profit, retail and other commercial service providers. To find the drop-off site nearest you, use the lookup tools on this web page. The site can be searched by postal code, community, or type of item.
Does your service accept all electronic or electrical items?
No. We currently accept 44 items; but most of them are your common business or home office items, including computers, laptops, printers, phone systems and floor-standing printers. The full list of “what’s accepted” items can be found here.
Why not accept all electronics?
Managing end-of-life electronics, with both substances of concern and valuable component parts, is a complex process. Unlike tin cans, newspaper and other recyclables, electronic waste management requires that we comply with strict human health and safety, and environmental guidelines and regulations. We must also ensure that our network of approved collection sites can adjust to the growing volumes, and types of electronics, before additional items can be accepted.
How do we know our old electronics are being managed properly when we drop them off at an OES-approved collection site or event?
From the time that electronic waste is accepted at an OES collection site, used electronics are managed according to a high standard of worker health and safety and compliance to environmental protection and regulations. Service providers and affiliated collection sites are listed in www.recycleyourelectronics.ca.
How do you manage deleting secure and confidential information?
We strongly recommend all businesses erase files and other data that may be stored in e-waste before dropping off. That said, our OES-approved processors are obliged to employ a variety of electro-magnetic and other proprietary techniques to ensure that all data is destroyed in the reuse or recycling process. For the full list of all OES-approved processors, click here.
What about the security of company information that may be left on the equipment when it’s dropped off?
Information management is a critical business function, especially for end-of-life technology. While OES will make every effort to ensure the privacy and security of personal information at our approved collection sites, we cannot accept liability for any data that remains on electronic equipment. As a business, you're likely doing everything you can to ensure identity protection and data security, including contracting the services of vendors that do this for you. If you don't, and as a recommendation, be sure to back up company data and wipe clean all data from computers and laptops, SIM cards and other storage devices in cell phones, digital printers and copiers or other digital devices.
What happens if we work with a non-approved collector?
First developed and introduced in 2004, Electronics Product Stewardship Canada’s (EPSC) Electronics Recycling Standard (ERS) has been the basis for electronics recyclers in Canada, including this program in Ontario. ERS works to demonstrate responsible, safe and environmentally sound recycling practices while staying current to address the processing developments of the recycling industry and the associated risks. If you are dealing with a service provider not in our network and not upholding these high standards, it’s possible that some of your electronics could end up in landfill. There is also the risk that 'scavengers' will collect the material for covert shipment to jurisdictions where regulatory controls are either less stringent or absent altogether.
Do items collected by your network go offshore?
When you work with an OES-approved service provider, much of the work in collecting, sorting and material recovery takes place right here in Ontario; with downstream processing located in Canada, the United States, and beyond. Hazardous material may not be exported to non-OECD or non-EU member countries or processed with the use of prison labour.
What happens downstream with end-of-life electronic components and materials?
OES works with approved service providers, including processors, to ensure safe and responsible diversion of unwanted electronics from Ontario's landfills. Ninety per cent of the material contained in electronic equipment can be recycled, including common metals such as copper, aluminum and steel, as well as glass and plastics.

Some components require special care; for example, lead is sometimes used in soldering, there is mercury in switches and, cadmium is used in batteries. There are also precious metals like gold, platinum and indium which can carry significant environmental costs in primary extraction, and finite natural resources should be recycled.
Can we arrange for regular on-site collection?
Please call us at 1-888-646-1820, or to contact one of our OES service providers listed by search.
We want to hold an e-waste collection event for our employees or tenants. Can we arrange that with OES?
Yes. And we can help. Contact us six to eight weeks in advance for help in getting started, and click here to link with our "Host Your Own Event" toolkit.
Is there a pick-up service?
You may already be dealing with an OES service provider. If so, discuss with them. There are collectors in our network offering large volume pickup. Look for the industrial, commercial and institutional (IC&I) icon in the website lookup function and those offering pick-up. You may also contact us or call 1-888-646-1820.
Is there a cost for this service?
There is no charge for dropping off items at an OES-approved collection site or event. If you are already dealing with an OES service provider, discuss with them. The cost of managing the reuse and recycling of end-of-life electronics is covered by fees collected by OES from those who make and market these goods in Ontario.
How is this program funded?
The program is funded by fees paid to OES. These funds are used exclusively to pay for collection, transportation, warehousing and processing of electronic waste as well as research promotion and education initiatives to encourage greater electronic equipment reuse and recycling.
Where can we find information on these fees?
An updated list of fees can be found here.
How often do fees change?
We continually monitor the cost to operate the program and assess fees annually. On August 1st, 2011, we reduced most fees. We made the reductions after consulting with industry partners and revising our projections on the amount of fee revenue needed to operate the program going forward.
Who runs this program?
Private industry. OES was formed by leading retail, information technology and consumer electronics companies to implement the program with oversight by Waste Diversion Ontario. OES is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors from across the supply chain. The Board is composed of volunteer voting directors and observers (non-voting). OES is a not-for-profit, industry funded organization.
How effective is this program?
Since beginning operations on April 1, 2009, the program has diverted roughly 100,000 tonnes – about 12,500 tractor-trailers full – of electronic items from landfill and helped the province develop a clean and greener economy. The waste industry overall encourages job creation and business innovations, and helps Ontario’s productivity and economic growth.
Would developing an e-waste plan or policy help our business?
A recent survey, which included more than 400 businesses from across the province, found that two-thirds of these businesses do not have a plan for managing electronics at end-of-life (EOL). Recycling electronics at EOL is a necessary and sound business practice for organizations regardless of size or industry on many levels. It can help a business: save money by eliminating the need to store retired technologies; create a more environmentally conscious organization; protect intellectual assets, and: manage your brand reputation.
Do you have more information on e-waste planning?
In summer 2011, OES held a webinar for business on “Managing End-of-Life Technology”, and published a business paper that is available for download. You may find these resources helpful.
I have more questions, who can I contact?
We welcome your questions and comments. Email us at: customerservice@ontarioelectronicstewardship.ca or
call 1-888-646-1820. Want to get started with safe and responsible end-of-life electronics management? Contact us.