Become a Retail
PartnerBuilding a Sustainable
Wireless Industry
Each year, millions of phone cases, chargers, cables, and wireless accessories are tossed into landfills. Most are made of mixed materials, plastic, or rubber composites that are hard to recycle and costly to sort. Eco-Train is changing that.
We work with wireless retailer partners to eliminate e-waste at the source, and give used wireless products a second life — by turning them into sustainable building materials, or responsibly recycling their components.
The wireless industry is fast-moving and product-heavy. It’s designed around convenience, not circularity.
At Eco-Train, our mission is to build a circular economy for wireless products — where materials are recovered, reused, or repurposed, not wasted.
Want to be part of a
solution-driven ecosystem?
What began in 2020 as a Phone Case Recovery Program has grown into nationwide network of retailers and
PLAEX Building Systems.
All materials are sorted by PLAEX
PLAEX uses the mixed plastics as part of the feedstock that goes into their landscaping and construction bricks.
Electronics are reused if possible or sent to the Electronic Products Recycling Association (EPRA).
From coast to coast, our partners are helping us make recycling wireless waste accessible and mainstream — so your accessories don’t outlive the planet.
Ready to put your
location on the map?
Unlike traditional recycling programs that focus on only a few materials, we’ve built a system designed for real-world accessories — the ones that clutter drawers or end up in the trash.
You can nowrecycle:
Phone, tablet, and smartwatch cases
Wireless and wired earbuds
Bluetooth speakers
Chargers, mounts, and data cables
Screen protectors, device trays
Smart accessories (Apple AirTags, Tiles, etc.)
Fully functional or damaged phones, tablets, smartwatches
Not sure if something qualifies? Our goal is to accept it all. Reach out and we’ll help you sort it.
Don’t know if it qualifies?
Ask Us What’s Acceptable
What began in 2020 as a Phone Case Recovery Program has grown into a nationwide Network of retailers,
collection depots, and recovery partners.
Customers bring unwanted wireless accessories — phone cases, cables, earbuds, even smartwatches — to one of our participating retail partners. Each store is equipped with an Eco-Train collection box that’s designed to handle a variety of items.
All material is shipped to PLAEX in New Brunswick. The BC depot no longer accepts material due to MAGSAFE magnets in phone cases. They will no longer process the material. Also retailers are responsible for the shipping costs. Read more…
Products are manually sorted, disassembled, and either recycled, reused, or repurposed in partnership with certified processors. Retailers receive regular data reports so they can track the impact of their program — and share it with their customers.
Looking to offer a value-added
service at checkout?
PLAEX currently is only manufacturing landscaping bricks. One day they will make PLAEX cinder blocks for buildings but
still need to obtain CSA and ASTM approval for use in the various building codes. PLAEX products are now available in select RONA retail locations in eastern Canada.
Our Brick&Panel™ system is available in very limited supplies, currently only approved for non-occupied structures such
as landscaping and storage. We are undergoing ASTM standards testing through independent third parties and we are anticipating broader use certification in 2025.
Each year, our planet generates an astonishing amount of plastic waste. The card below shows the overall annual total,
while the 3D visualization demonstrates the immense global scale of this yearly accumulation. (Data based on OECD reports and current analyses).
Metric Tonnes of Plastic Waste Generated Annually (Over)
Equivalent to approx.
Hitfar has invested heavily in trying to steer the industry into a more responsible waste recovery model by adopting a strong stance on expectations for minimal waste in packaging, renewable material choices in product development and of course helping to support a sustainable recovery program for the goods in circulation.
Phone cases are not eligible for the Blue Bin recovery programs and all cases that are thrown out end up in land fill and “live” there for the next 1,000 years or so. By recovering cases that would have otherwise been thrown out we are able to convert them into energy and building products like cement and innovative building materials like PLAEX Building Systems.
We are therefore encouraging all our vendors and retail partners to continue to do their part in helping to support the Eco-Train Phone Case Recovery in Canada. Memberships not only help in supporting the recovery process but also represent a green choice in corporate governance. Sooner rather than later all manufacturers and retailers will be held responsible for recovering their waste, to do so on their own will require heavy lifting and substantial resources. An industry wide, community effort is in everyone’s best interest.
Hiftar Concepts, Burnaby, BC
Hitfar has invested heavily in trying to steer the industry into a more responsible waste recovery model by adopting a strong stance on expectations for minimal waste in packaging, renewable material choices in product development and of course helping to support a sustainable recovery program for the goods in circulation.
Phone cases are not eligible for the Blue Bin recovery programs and all cases that are thrown out end up in land fill and “live” there for the next 1,000 years or so. By recovering cases that would have otherwise been thrown out we are able to convert them into energy and building products like cement and innovative building materials like PLAEX Building Systems.
We are therefore encouraging all our vendors and retail partners to continue to do their part in helping to support the Eco-Train Phone Case Recovery in Canada. Memberships not only help in supporting the recovery process but also represent a green choice in corporate governance. Sooner rather than later all manufacturers and retailers will be held responsible for recovering their waste, to do so on their own will require heavy lifting and substantial resources. An industry wide, community effort is in everyone’s best interest.
Hiftar Concepts, Burnaby, BC
Want stories like these to be about your store?
We’ve made it easy for you to do the right thing.
Search our Retail Locator to find a drop-off point nearyou.
Available during regular retail store hours
100% free, no purchase required
Want to make your store a part of the solution?
Offer customers a responsible way to dispose of unwanted
wireless accessories
Show your sustainability credentials
Receive free boxes, logistics, and reporting
Get listed onour national network
Being part of the Eco-Train network isn’t just good for the planet — it’s good for business.
Here’s how we support our partners:
Benefits to Customers
Read more…
Eco-Friendly Choices: By utilizing our recycling services, customers can make a positive impact on the environment, contributing to waste reduction and resource preservation.
Increased foot traffic
Impact Reporting + Data Sheets
Custom Signage + Marketing Collateral
Featured on Our Retail Locator
You’ll also receive ongoing support from our team to ensure the program integrates smoothly into your retail workflow.
Whether you’re a consumer with a drawer full of old tech, a retailer looking to do better — we’re here to help you be
part of the circular solution.
Let’s talk
Based on the traditional and unceded territory of the Kwikwetlem First Nation
Find a Drop-Off