Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: ecoatm, electronic, recycling, gadgets | Themes: Smartphones, Audio/Video Players, 3GSM
Put phone into machine.
We love getting new gadgets, but what do we do with the old ones that they replace? Besides handing them down (or up) to someone else so that they can get more use out of it, the next best thing would be to recycle them.
Recycling items of any sort shouldn't have to have its own perks and incentives, but who is to turn away getting something back for your old junk? San Diego-based ecoATM last month installed its first "Automated eCycling Station for eWaste" at a Nebraska Furniture Mart in Omaha.
Customers can bring in old cell phones to a machine that will scan and give an assessment of value. Owners of the cell phone can then trade in their old mobile for in-store credit or gift card. If the phone has no value, it may still be accepted for recycling or refurbishment.
"We are extremely pleased with the initial results and consumers’ delight with the system," said Mark Bowles, CEO, ecoATM Inc. "ecoATM’s solution finally makes it easy for consumers to give their used phones a second life or to recycle them. Over 100 million used, but still valuable phones, are quietly retired to closets and drawers each year in the US where they decay into zero value and then enter our landfills years later. Our automated ecoATM provides consumers and retailers an easy, convenient, incentivized method to convert those devices into real money instead of toxic waste."
Right now the Omaha store is the pilot, but ecoATM has plans to introduce it to retailers in San Diego, Boston, Dallas and Seattle later this year. The kiosk is also able to accept other types of electronics other than cell phones, though there's no word for when the ecoATM will expand its range of acceptance.
Would you recycle your old electronics more often if you were paid to do so?
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I should set up one of these machines...
Scan new, throw in 1990 cellphone. Scan new phone, throw in another 1990 Cell phone....
I can't see anyway to abuse this system >:-)
Chances are 99% of phones over 2 years old will ding $0.
What's to stop someone from stealing your new phone and then selling at this machine?
I'd guess that you won't make much if they're just scanning for scrap value, probably anyone who's going to steal a (relatively) new phone is going to go with the old school ways of getting rid of it - Pawn Shop, Craigslist, EBay, Russian Mafia, etc...
I think this machine is a cool idea though, I tend not to throw out gadgets because it seems like a waste to landfill something that (with a little work) has a lot of recycleable components. If we had one of these machines around, I'd use it just to get clear out a few drawers in the house - even if I didn't make a cent.
the only problem with this sytem is they will assess most of the cell phones as 0 dollars unless they are released this year. If that's the case, I wouldn't even throw away my current year 700 dollar cell phone for like 50 dollars
nice idea.
I wish it took more than just cellphones. I have an old radio, and a pile of expansion cards that also need a new home.
What's to stop someone from stealing your new phone and then selling at this machine?
Whats to stop someone from stealing your new phone and then selling it to Dirty Bobs Pawn Shop?
I work for ecoATM and we pay fair market value for the phones. Most customers are very happy with the value they get. In fact, many people return later in the day with a bag of old phones they want to recycle. Plus we plant a tree for each phones turned in.
The kiosk has a full package of biometrics on board. We can capture a photo, fingerprint, drivers license and signature. This was done to prevent theifs from selling back electronics and to comply with various pawnshop laws in different states. Also, the machine locks your phone in the inspection bin so you can't remove it unless you cancel the process.
We need the same for other electronic parts.
Interesting concept
Hopefully, the electronics are recycled safely by a responsible company and not shipped to a third-world country where the standards for recycling and toxic material reclamation are lax or nonexistent.
No company recycles without a incentive.
Hell, working in a city paper/cardboard/plastic recycling program, if thet aren't making any cash, they just shut down. Layoffs during the offseason are common... profit margins are too small.
"You pay us to recycle, then we sell off the recycled material to China."
What's to stop someone from stealing your new phone and then selling at this machine?
Stop killing good ideas please. People have been waiting for a good reason to steal phones for awhile now and you are exposing their promised land.
If only it would also pay good money for old graphics cards...
I work for ecoATM. One of ecoATM's founders is widely respected as one of the most respected electronics recyclers in the business over the past 10 years, is an eSteward with BAN, and has helped author some of the EPA rules regarding eWaste. ecoATM is the real deal when it comes to the environment. As far as handling stolen devices, ecoATM has the facility to tie into the database of reported stolen phones and refuse to accept those devices, as well as capture info about the person attempting to sell them where that is legally allowed. Anyone can steal a phone today and sell if through lots of channels other than an ecoATM anyway. We pay in store credit not cash so its not a preferred path for criminals looking for quick cash. ecoATM is starting with phones only but we are working now to expand its range to include pretty much any USB based device, DVDs, game cartridges, etc.