New automated kiosks in Ontario will pay you for your old phone

EcoATM, a global leader in electronics recycling, officially launched in Canada through a partnership with Walmart.

According to the company's press release, the initial launch will see 13 kiosks open in Walmarts across the Greater Toronto Area, mainly in Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, and Burlington, with plans for further expansion.

A report from the CBC states that Canadians generated nearly one million tonnes of e-waste in the year 2020 alone, with the e-waste per person jumping from 8.3 kilograms in 2000 to 25.3 kilograms. CBC's figure projects that the total e-waste per year will reach 1.2 million tonnes by the year 2030.

According to Statcan, only 16 per cent of Canadian households returned an unwanted phone to a supplier. In the same survey, 14 per cent of households had an unwanted computer they needed to dispose of, while cellphones and televisions also had the same percentage.

EcoATM has about 6,500 recycling kiosks across the United States, with the company collecting over 50 million devices to date; diverting about 25 million pounds of e-waste from landfills. This year, the company aims to recycle 7.5 million pounds of e-waste across North America.

The kiosks use what the company calls "advanced diagnostics and real-world pricing" to evaluate devices and provide cash for them automatically.

The process begins with the device being placed inside the kiosk, where an automated evaluation and ID verification take place. Then, the kiosk shows you a quote for the device, which users can accept, and then receive the cash instantly.