Our origin story

Most of us are aware that recycling old electronics like phones, tablets, laptops and hard drives is the responsible thing to do. It keeps potentially hazardous materials from leaching into our soil and water at the landfill, while also reducing the need for mining of new precious metals when they can be harvested from old devices.

If we know recycling is the right thing to do, why do so many
of us have old devices piling up at home in a drawer?

This is what drove the creation of what we affectionately started calling The Oscar Project. We already have the Canadian facilities, staff and expertise as part of our work securely decommissioning devices for organizations and business, so we thought we might be able help move the needle on this common issue for the average Canadian.

As part of our Project, we began researching why Canadians weren’t taking action with their old devices. We asked our friends and family. Then we took it one step further and commissioned a Canada-wide research study. The reasons became clear quickly. 

Canadians are (rightly) concerned about the personal
data that might still be on their old devices.

No one wants their personal data landing in the wrong hands. And most of the people we spoke to weren’t confident that they knew how to properly remove the data from their old devices. Knowing this, they didn’t feel safe dropping their old phones, tablets, laptops or hard drives into open bins at a retail store or drop-off location. 

It was a valid concern. One that The Oscar Project set out to solve. Plus, we wanted to make the process convenient for even the busiest of Canadian households. 

As proud Canadians looking to leave behind a green planet for our own children, The Oscar Project aims to remove any barriers that might exist when it comes to recycling your phones, tablets, laptops and hard drives. We hope you’ll join us on our mission!