Partnerships Aim to Increase Phone Recycling in the US and Latin America
ReCellular Inc., is a leaders in trading, refurbishing and recycling of used cell phones, pagers, printer cartridges, PDAs and other handheld electronic devices. ReCellular is now accelerating the reuse and recycling of used personal electronics with the addition of 30,000 more drop off recycling locations in the US and expanding into Latin America.
ReCellular is establishing the drop-off locations in the United States for mobile phones in partnership with RBRC (Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation), a nonprofit public service organization created to promote the recycling of portable rechargeable batteries.
The expansion was triggered in part by new legislation introduced in California last month regarding the need to divert all cell phones from landfills and asking the industry to take more responsibility for recycling old rechargeable batteries as well as cell phones.
ReCellular's program is supported by the CTIA (Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association), which is encouraging cell phone stores and manufacturers to set up these types of collection points. Many other industry leaders are already facilitating take-back initiatives in their stores, including Verizon Wireless, Sprint PCS, and Best Buy.
In Latin America, ReCellular is working with the ALACEL mobile phone trade association to establish take-back programs in multiple countries. The 10-year ALACEL-ReCellular agreement states that ALACEL will aggressively encourage its member organizations, wireless service providers, retail providers of cellular devices, and community and volunteer groups to sponsor used cell phone collection and recycling programs. A report released by INFORM found that Latin America was the largest market for refurbished phones.
The phones, which are often old and outmoded models in the US, provide an affordable alternative for people in Latin America who might not be able to afford even a landline phone service, let alone a new wireless phone. ReCellular is currently involved in a program in Ecuador and is seeking Latin American companies to conduct their own take-back programs. For more information, visit ReCellular's booth #4567 at the CTIA Wireless show or the company's web site at http://www.wirelessrecycling.com . Consumers can help by donating or selling their old devices through ReCellular, or starting a local collection program to support a charity, school functions, a place of worship, or other fundraising activities.
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