Disposal Guide
How To Dispose Of Electronic WasteS
If you live in Ottawa, what’s the best way to dispose of your old electronics when you no longer need them?
Getting rid of electronic waste can be a bit frustrating. Old electronics like phones, tablets, and monitors can’t be thrown out with your regular roadside garbage. They often contain toxic heavy metals like lead and mercury that need special handling, as well as glass, copper, and plastics that need to be recycled.
Luckily, we have you covered.
In this guide, we’ll go over each of the ways to legally dispose of electronic waste in Ottawa. By the end, you’ll know the best options for getting rid of e-waste.
Electronic Waste Disposal Guide
E-waste often includes old televisions, desktop computers, computer monitors, laptop computers, printers, fax machines, disk drives, CD-ROMs, keyboards, mice, amplifiers, stereos, speakers, receivers, cameras, copiers, scanners, pagers, personal digital assistants, radios, telephones, cellphones, answering machines, VCRs, and DVD players.
How can you get rid of them in the Ottawa area? Let’s break it down.
Rent A Dumpster
If you have quite a bit of old electronics on your hands, renting a roll off dumpster bin can be a great option.
How it works: Once you order a dumpster bin, it gets delivered to your location when you need it. You fill it with all of your old electronics, and the bin company picks it up and takes care of your electronics properly, following all regulations.
A 10-yard dumpster bin is big enough to handle a load of TVs, monitors, desktop computers, and printers.
Having a dumpster bin delivered lets you clean out your load of old electronic devices at your own pace. And it will save you from making multiple trips to a recycling centre.
Benefits
- Convenience: The dumpster gets delivered and picked up where and when you request it.
- Save Time: No need to make more than one trip to a drop-off site; Put everything you have in the dumpster and collect electronic waste all at once.
- Capacity: Dumpsters come in different sizes, so you can choose one with enough room. A 10-r will have enough room for proper disposal needs.
Considerations
- Trust: Choose a trusted local rental company by checking customer reviews and ratings.
- Space: You’ll need enough space at your location for the dumpster bin.
- Sorting: Electronics may need to be sorted from other types of garbage. Check with your bin rental company.
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Recycle Your Electronics
Did you know you can get money for your e-waste? CFT Recycling takes end-of-life electronics for cash. We take all sorts of electronics, from AC adapters to game consoles. Request a quote today!
Recycling end of life electronics in the City of Ottawa is actually pretty straightforward and a great way to keep them out of landfills. When electronics are recycled, the metals, glass, and plastics are extracted and sent to companies that can reuse them.
Many electronics can be recycled at electronics retailers that are participating in the city’s Take It Back! Program. Another option is Recycle My Electronics, a non-profit with local drop-off sites (including Staples and Best Buy) that will accept end of life electronics.
E-waste can also be brought to Ottawa’s Trail Road Waste Facility at no charge. This facility accepts a variety of electronics, including old computers, televisions, printers, and other household devices, which are securely recycled in an environmentally friendly manner.
Benefits
- Environmentally Friendly: Secure recycling keeps electronics out of landfills.
- Saves Resources: Precious metals, glass, and plastics can be extracted from electronics and reused.
- Saves Energy: Recycling electronics saves energy compared to producing new materials.
Considerations
- Research: Not all recycling drop offs accept every kind of electronic, so you might need to call around first.
- Data Security: Make sure any personal information is wiped clean off your devices and computers before recycling.
- Transportation: You’ll need to haul your electronics to the drop off location yourself. If you have a lot of it, that could mean multiple trips.
SCRAP YOUR ELECTRONICS FOR CASH?
Trade-In Electronics
Trading in electronics is a great way to get some value out of your old devices.
Some retailers, manufacturers, and telecommunications companies offer trade-in programs where you can trade in your older smartphones, laptops, tablets, and gaming consoles for credit towards a new purchase.
The trade-in value usually depends on how old your electronics are and what condition they’re in.
Trading in your electronics and devices will save you some money and also keep e- waste out of landfills.
Benefits
- Save Money: Trading in your old devices and electronics will usually get you a discount on a new purchase.
- Convenience: If you just have one or two small devices, you can bring them with you to a retailer or sometimes even mail them in when you buy online.
- Sustainable Choice: Many companies refurbish and resell trade-in electronic devices, giving old devices new life and reducing e-waste.
Considerations
- Eligibility: Not all types and models of electronics can be traded in.
- Condition Requirements: Many trade-in programs require your old devices to be in working condition.
- Lower Value for Older Models: Trade-in values can be quite low for outdated models.
Sell on Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace
Selling electronics on Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace is another way to make a little money while giving devices more use.
Listing items is straightforward and free: simply upload photos, add a description, set a price, and post. Include details such as the brand, model, and condition. Both platforms have a large user base in the city, making it easy to connect with local buyers interested in items like phones, laptops, gaming consoles, and other tech gadgets.
In fact, you can even find a market for your older, more “vintage” computers and devices that most users would find too out-of-date.
Selling electronics on Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace is a win-win: it offers a second life for devices and puts cash back in your pocket.
Benefits
- Make Money: Selling your electronics can get you some quick cash.
- Find Users For Vintage Items: Chances are, you can find a collector interested in your old, vintage electronics.
- Sell From Home: You can even have buyers come directly to your front door.
Considerations
- Time Investment: Listing items, communicating with buyers, and arranging pick-ups takes time and effort.
- No Shows: Facebook and Kijiji buyers can be notoriously flakey.
- Data Security: Definitely make sure to wipe all personal data from devices before selling to protect your privacy.
Donate Electronics
Donating your working electronic gadgets is a way to give back to the community.
There are local organizations that accept electronics to support educational or social programs, such as the Ottawa branch of Computers for Schools which accepts used computers, laptops, and monitors.
The Salvation Army, Goodwill, and Value Village are other options for donating gently used electronics like televisions, tablets, and small appliances. These organizations resell them to low-income families.
Before you donate computers and smartphones, erase all personal data by performing a factory reset.
Benefits
- Support Your Community: Donating working electronics helps lower income families.
- Tax Deduction: Donating old electronics to a registered charity can get you a small tax credit.
- E-Waste Reduction: Donating gives your electronics a new life and keeps them out of landfills.
Considerations
- Condition Requirements: Donations are usually only accepted if the electronics are usable and only a few years out of date.
- Limited Drop-Off Locations: Not all donation centers accept electronics. It’s a good idea to call ahead.
- Data Security: As with recycling, make sure your personal information is wiped from devices before donating.
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Hire A Junk Removal Company
Hiring a junk removal company can be a very convenient option, especially if you have a fair amount of bulky electronics like TVs or printers. These companies will come to your door and haul away almost anything, for a sometimes hefty price.
Junk removal companies can be expensive, and you might not get the timeline you want if they’re booked up.
Before hiring a junk removal service, make sure they follow Ottawa’s e-waste disposal regulations.
Benefits
- Convenience: Junk removal services come right to your door and haul away whatever you need gone.
- Bulk Disposal: Can be a convenient option if you have a lot of bulky electronics you don’t want to deal with.
- No Lifting Needed: Usually they will come and carry away your electronics.
Considerations
- Cost: Junk removal services can be pricey.
- Scheduling: You’ll need to arrange a time for pick-up, which may not align with when you want it gone.
- Limited Sorting: While many companies recycle electronics, some may charge extra or have restrictions on specific types of e-waste.
FAQs
Common E-Waste Recycling Questions
The City of Ottawa municipal garbage collection services don’t accept electronics because they contain hazardous materials like lead and mercury, which can contaminate landfills. Electronics also often require special processing to separate recyclable materials like metals and plastics.
Before you do anything, remove any personal data by doing a factory reset. Then, remove batteries from items that aren’t battery-sealed, as batteries are often processed separately. Keep your e-waste separate from other hazardous waste and recycling.
Rent a dumpster from CFT Bins
If you have a large load of bulky electronics to get rid of, renting a 10-foot dumpster bin makes it easy.
Forget making multiple trips. At CFT Bins, we offer affordable dumpster bins that are perfect for hauling away bulk electronics from any site in the Ottawa area. Our team is dedicated to making sure all electronics are handled and processed in an environmentally friendly way.
Our team will have one dropped off at your location when you need it. Once full, let us know and we’ll come and pick it up. It’s really that easy!
If you’re looking to rent one, reach out to us for a personalized quote today.
Serving Ottawa, Gatineau, Pembroke, and surrounding regions!