Environment and Protected Areas Minister Rebecca Schulz
The Alberta government will launch a new recycling pilot program next year to keep cell phones, power tools, solar panels and more out of landfills.
Starting next year, Alberta will begin permanently recycling more than 500 additional electronic items, including cell phones, power tools and microwaves.
The province will also start developing Canada’s first provincial recycling programs for solar panels, electric vehicle batteries and wind turbine components.
“We are stepping up to reduce waste and create the best recycling system in Canada — especially when it comes to proactively addressing materials from wind and solar electricity,” Environment and Protected Areas Minister Rebecca Schulz said in a news release. “We’re not just focused on what Albertans want to recycle today, but also what they are going to want to recycle 20 years from now.”
At present, the Electronics Recycling Program includes only computer equipment and televisions.
Starting April 1, 2025, this pilot will become a permanent, province wide part of Alberta’s recycling system, enabling Albertans to recycle more electronic items, including:
- Power tools.
- Lawn and garden equipment.
- Small appliances such as microwaves, coffee machines and digital bathroom scales.
- Cell phones and telephones.
- A/V devices such as speakers, DVD players and VCRs.
- Musical instruments such as electric guitars and keyboards.
- Video game equipment.
- Toys.
These electronic items can be dropped off at any of the 365 registered recycling depots in 148 municipalities across the province.
“By managing e-waste and tackling the complexities of renewable energy materials head on, we’re creating new opportunities, new industries and more jobs and building our circular economy,” said Ed Gugenheimer, chief executive officer of the Alberta Recycling Management Authority. “It means a more sustainable future without waste for Alberta.”
There are no dedicated solar panel recycling programs or facilities in Canada, despite estimates that up to 800,000 tonnes of solar panels could reach end of life by around 2050.
Similarly, there are no provincial wind turbine recycling programs and only Quebec offers a voluntary, industry-led EV battery recovery program.
The Alberta government and the Alberta Recycling Management Authority will consult with experts and industry partners on steps needed to set up a permanent provincial renewable energy recycling program.
This will include exploring what new programs and policies are needed to support solar panel recycling, including any potential fees or landfill bans.
At the same time, the province will also begin exploring steps needed to set up wind turbine and EV battery recycling programs in the future.
