FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions

You have the questions, we have the answers. Take a look at some of the most common questions our customers ask us. Browse through our list of questions and answers and if you still have not found the information you are looking for, please contact us and we'll be happy to give you a hand.

Q. What is e-waste recycling exactly?
A. Electronic waste recycling means collecting your end of life electronic equipment, dismantling it and processing it in such as way that the components can be used again as raw material in the manufacturing of new consumer or industrial goods.

Q. How much does it cost to have our equipment picked up?
A. FCM has to charge a fee to pick up your old electronic equipment. This fee may vary depending on the type and quantity of equipment and the distance we need to travel.

Q. I’ve heard most so-called recyclers actually only keep the valuable parts and simply throw out the rest. How do I know FCM actually recycles e-waste?
A. FCM Recycling facilities are EPSC approved and operate under stringent protocols ensuring your e-waste is properly recycled.

Q. How do you insure data destruction on all the old computers you receive?
A. Most of the time, any data remaining on hard drives has been erased by the customer before the equipment is picked up by FCM Recycling. However, we do offer a data erasing service prior to destruction (shredding) of the hard drive which insures any residual data is irretrievable.

Q. Do you offer some kind of documentation proving that the hard drive was destroyed?
A. Yes. Upon request, FCM Recycling can offer businesses a certificate of destruction. This will certify that your computer’s hard drive was destroyed. Please call us for pricing.

Q. What happens to the equipment once it reaches your facility?
A. FCM Recycling disassembles the equipment, separates metals from plastics, and processes the material to obtain pieces that in many cases are less than one inch in diameter. These are then sent for further processing to obtain what is called “secondary-primary material”. This can then be used in exactly the same way as if it were raw material to make new consumer and industrial goods.

Q. Is e-waste really that big of a problem?
A. Unfortunately, yes. Did you know that the average life span of a computer today is about 2-3 years and that of a cell phone one year? This means consumers and companies all over the world are renewing their electronic equipment more and more often. This has made e-waste the fastest growing source of waste in North America.