Alberta to start permanently recycling hundreds of electronic items

The Alberta government is making a pilot program to recycle more than 500 electronic items permanent.

The province says it will start in April 2025 and will enable residents to continue to recycle things like cell phones, microwaves and video game equipment.

The pilot project allowed the province to work through any potential issues with recycling the additional items, according to CEO of the Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARMA) Ed Gugenheimer.

“We’re still continuing to take those materials, so from a risk perspective, this entire pilot was to see where the problems lie and to see whether or recyclers could actually recycle those materials,” he says.

The items that can be recycled province-wide include:

• power tools 
• lawn and garden equipment  
• small appliances (e.g., microwaves, coffee machines, digital bathroom scales) 
• cell phones / telephones 
• A/V devices (e.g., speakers, DVD players, VCRs) 
• musical instruments (e.g., electric guitars, keyboards) 
• video game equipment 

The new AI-powered X-ray system helps workers identify any hazards — like batteries — so they can be removed before processing.

“When it comes to electronics, anything with a battery and plug, there’s ways and means to recycle it all,” said Gary Diamond, Quantum Lifecycle Partners.

The company that runs this plant says about 95 per cent of the metals and plastics in these items can be melted, ground down, and reused.

The provincial government says it could mean fees on these items of anywhere from 40 cents to $1 — but Environment and Protected Areas minister Rebecca Schulz says those figures could change.

“That was an estimate from the department on where we may be started right now, but they may change given industry feedback over the next couple of months,” she says.

A pilot project testing the plan since 2020, has diverted 14,000 tonnes from Alberta landfills, about the weight of 4,000 cars.

“These changes are a major step forward for our province and our country, and of course, this is a legacy that we will leave future generations,” said Schulz.

Once the program launches, the items can be dropped off at any of the 365 registered recycling depots in 148 municipalities across the province.

The fees are set to start in April. The province is also working on a plan to recycle solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries from electric vehicles. Officials say more information will be released on that in the fall.

-With files from Sean Amato