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FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Recycling
Refurbished Technology FAQs
Data Destruction
The $5 fee applies only on winter Saturdays from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM when 5 cm or more of snow has fallen, and helps keep our site safe and accessible during heavy snowfall.
The fee applies to customers who:
• Drop off e-waste
• Browse in-store refurbished computers or monitors without making a purchase
• Visit the store without making a purchase
Important details:
• The fee is charged upfront at check-in.
• If you make a purchase during your visit, the $5 fee is applied as a discount toward your purchase.
• All deliveries must be made to the front entrance. Customers attempting to avoid the fee by using the rear entrance (which is monitored via surveillance) will be called out and asked to drive around to the front.
The fee does not apply to customers using:
• Paper shredding
• Data destruction
• Computer repair services
The fee covers the extra effort required to manually shovel and maintain the front entrance and is always clearly posted when in effect.
You can avoid the fee by planning ahead:
• Call us (tel:519-886-6801)before visiting to check if the $5 fee will apply on a winter Saturday.
• Browse our virtual store (https://www.eco-techrecycling.com/category/all-products)before coming in, so you can make an informed purchase instead of just browsing in-person.
• Schedule your e-waste drop-off during our regular weekday hours, Monday to Friday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, when the Winter Saturday fee does not apply.
By planning ahead, you can save the $5 fee while still enjoying our e-waste drop-off or in-store shopping experience.
Eco-Tech's decision not to purchase e-waste from the public stems from the increasing handling costs and declining commodity values since 2020, rendering it economically unfeasible. The significant expenses associated with labor and machinery for processing large e-waste volumes pose a threat to sustainable recycling initiatives. Furthermore, to ensure its continued operation in the Waterloo Region and to avoid the fate of other local e-waste businesses that failed largely due to purchasing challenges, Eco-Tech has opted to focus on safer, more sustainable practices that align with its long-term viability.
Yes, Eco-Tech Waterloo provides professional, reliable, and cost-effective pick-up services for e-waste on ground-level, within 25 feet of an exit for business l(https://www.eco-techrecycling.com/service-page/pick-up-service?referral=service_list_widget)ocations in Waterloo Region.
Residential clients are encouraged to deliver e-waste for free recycling at Eco-Tech during our operation hours or to contact our friends at Junk Works Waterloo (https://www.junk-works.ca/pricing)for affordable pick-up services in the Region.
Eco-Tech's E-waste events now come with a service fee per event day, a necessity due to declining commodity values and rising logistics costs since 2020. Eco-Tech's E-waste events utilize gaylord boxes,(https://boxbuddy.co/collections/gaylord-boxes) which can hold up to 750 pounds of loose items, facilitating efficient collection and transportation of e-waste. These events provide a cost-effective alternative to traditional c containers,(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shipping_container) which not only incur higher costs but also attract unwanted individuals seeking to commit larceny of the collected E-waste. Despite the fee, sponsoring these events remains an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to environmental sustainability in Waterloo Region.
To sponsor an E-waste event, please contact us (https://www.eco-techrecycling.com/quote)for a quote.
Eco-Tech provides computer recycling at no cost—you can responsibly dispose of your laptop or desktop without any fees. If you need to retain your data, we offer optional services for a nominal per-drive fee. This includes safely removing your hard drive for reuse or transferring your documents, photos, and applications to another storage device, such as a portable drive. These services ensure your data is preserved securely while giving you flexibility to choose the level of support that fits your needs and budget.
For service details, please contact us (https://www.eco-techrecycling.com/quote)for a quote.
Yes, Eco-Tech accepts various mixed wires and cables for recycling at no cost, including power, telephone, Cat 5/6 Ethernet, USB-C, HDMI, audio/visual cables, and extension cords. However, they do not offer compensation for these materials because substantial volumes of thousands of pounds, along with meticulous separation by grade, are required to generate meaningful commodity value that ensures sustainable operations.
Eco-Tech offers a convenient, reliable recycling service for VHS/Beta tapes, CD/DVDs, vinyl records, and floppy disks, charging a per-pound rate with a minimum charge of $10.00 since these items are not classified as e-waste and do not receive recycling subsidies. The company partners with R2 Certified Processors to uphold strict recycling protocols, ensuring that these items are recycled responsibly and kept out of landfills.
Yes, Eco-Tech offers free recycling services for common batteries, including alkaline, lead-acid (including UPS and automotive), and lithium-ion/polymer batteries from laptops and smartphones, though no compensation is provided for these. For specialized batteries, such as Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4 or LFP), lithium-polymer, and lithium-ion batteries found in E-bikes, drones, or robotics, a handling fee per pound is charged, as there are no subsidies to offset the recycling costs for these batteries. For damaged or swollen batteries, a $5.00 per unit handling is charged due to fire risks, and special handling requirements.
For batteries incurring fees, please contact us (https://www.eco-techrecycling.com/quote)for a quote.
Yes, Eco-Tech collaborates with R2 Certified Lamp Processors to accept incandescent, CFL bulbs, and fluorescent tubes for recycling, collecting and warehousing them in quantities until reaching hundreds of units while ensuring they are safeguarded from shattering and minimizing exposure to mercury. Due to the complexities of handling mercury and the associated logistics, a per-unit handling fee is charged. Conversely, LED bulbs can be recycled at no cost, providing a more environmentally friendly and economical option for customers.
For service details, please contact us (https://www.eco-techrecycling.com/quote)for a quote.
Yes, we do! We accept X-rays for both recycling and shredding, with the following handling fees for loose films (not in envelopes or sleeves):
• Recycling: $1.00 per pound, with a $10.00 minimum charge
• Shredding (unsupervised): $2.00 per pound, with a $50.00 minimum charge
▸ A certificate of destruction is provided.
If your X-rays are in individual sleeves, an additional $0.40 per pound processing surcharge applies due to the extra time and labor required.
👉 To avoid this surcharge, we recommend removing sleeves before drop-off.
For service details, please contact us (https://www.eco-techrecycling.com/quote)for a quote.
Eco-Tech focuses on E-waste and battery recycling and does not accept paints or oils due to their requirement for special handling; however, it can assist customers by directing them to resources like productcare.org,(https://www.productcare.org/) which helps locate nearby facilities for hazardous waste disposal and offers guidance on responsible waste management.
Yes, Eco-Tech accepts large flat screen and CRT TVs for free recycling, however there is a $5.00 handling fee per rear-projection (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rear-projection_television)or console (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Console_television#:~:text=A%20console%20television%20is%20a,part%20of%20the%20television's%20design.)television due to the absence of recycling subsidies for those types.
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