What Happens to My Cell Phone When I Recycle It?

At Cellular Recycler, we get asked this question a lot. And people sometimes don't like my answer, "It Depends."

But it does depend - and it depends primarily on whether you use a reputable, R2/RIOS (or equivalent) certified provider.

So, speaking on behalf of Cellular Recycler, here's a quick (and basic) rundown of what happens to phones that reach our R2/RIOS certified warehouse.

Tiny Costa Rica Leads Charge to Decarbonize by 2050

I live part-time in Costa Rica. Well, to be honest, being more of a traveling sales person and client representative, I live on the road, but where I call home is sometimes Colorado and sometimes Costa Rica. It's where my kid goes to school, and where my wife and dogs live - so I'd call that home.

I'm proud of a lot of things about my self-proclaimed home-town. It eliminated its army long ago, it eliminated zoos in favor of animal refuges, and now is attempting to lead the charge to both decarbonize and to eliminate single-use plastics. And, at least in the beaches where we live part of the year, they are free of restaurants, hotels and hawkers, and building is limited to three stories or less, eliminating the whole mammoth-hotel problem.

And while you could certainly argue that some of Costa Rica's policies wouldn't work for other countries (and I wouldn't disagree with you), you have to admit that it's admirable that the country stands up for what it believes in.

Feature Phones Almost Extinct In US

Smartphones accounted for seven of eight devices shipped in the US during the first quarter, with Apple and Samsung leading the way.

Only 13% of the handsets shipped during the first quarter were traditional cellphones. The remaining 87% were all smartphones. Apple and Samsung chewed up the bulk of smartphone shipments, and Android-based LTE devices are selling big.

The data, which comes from Counterpoint's Market Monitor quarterly tracker program, shows that smartphone makers shipped 33 million devices in the US during the first three months of the year. While the US smartphone market grew only 7% on an annual basis, it has become the dominant segment in handsets.

Combined, Apple and Samsung own more than two-thirds of the entire US smartphone market. Samsung is the No. 1 supplier of cellphones, but Apple is the No. 1 supplier of smartphones. For example, 52% and 51% of all smartphones shipped by AT&T and Verizon Wireless, respectively, were Apple iPhones. The iPhone accounted for only 36% of smartphone shipments at Sprint and 24% at T-Mobile.

As a platform, Android accounted for 59% of all smartphones shipped during the first quarter. That means approximately 19.47 million units. Windows Phone grew to 4% of the US market, which makes for about 1.32 million units. Counterpoint didn't offer data points for iOS and BlackBerry's shares of the market. Other analyst firms show that BlackBerry has dropped to 3% or below.

Americans are adopting LTE in large numbers. Three out of four smartphones shipped during the first quarter were LTE smartphones. Together, Apple and Samsung captured more than 70% of all LTE shipments, according to Counterpoint. All four national carriers have widespread availability of LTE service. AT&T and Verizon currently have the largest LTE footprints.

Handset sales by carrier:

• The top seven phone makers at AT&T were (in order): Apple (52%), Samsung (28%), Nokia (6%), Motorola, ZTE, LG, and HTC.
• The top seven phone makers at Sprint were: Apple (36%), Samsung (30%), ZTE (10%), LG (8%), Motorola, Kyocera, and HTC.
• The top seven phone makers at T-Mobile were: Samsung (38%), Apple (24%), Kyocera (9%), LG (8%), Nokia, Motorola, and HTC. T-Mobile is the only carrier that saw Samsung outsell Apple.
• And the top seven phone makers at Verizon Wireless were: Apple (51%), Samsung, (29%), Motorola (6%), LG, Nokia, Kyocera, and HTC.

Counterpoint didn't provide any guidance on when we might see the feature phone disappear entirely, and the devices probably won't. A small market will likely remain in place indefinitely for phones that do one thing and one thing only: make phone calls.

Raising money for people who need help, keeping harmful material out of our nations landfills and making a dollar for ourselves' are the words & mantra of this Colorado Company. Cellular Recycler is the leading small electronics recycler who's focus is on wireless phones who recycles 100,000 devices per month.

A B Corporation is a new type of company which uses the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.

Cellular Recycler of Boulder Colorado, one of the nation's leading electronic recyclers, has been been recognized by the B Corporation certification body as a Certified B Corporation™ now for a third year.

"As a company whose mission to is keep the harmful material found in cell phones out of our nations land fills, re-certifying as a B Corporation is a no-brainer for us," said Brandon Greenhaw, President of Cellular Recycler. "The process for becoming a B Corporation was comprehensive and thorough, and has helped us better measure the impact our actions have on our employees, partners, community and environment."

B Corps are certified by the nonprofit B Lab to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.Certified B Corporations are a new type of corporation which uses the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.

Today, there is a growing community of more than 600 Certified B Corps from 15 countries and 60 industries working together toward 1 unifying goal: to redefine success in business. The heart of the the Benefit Corporation is the same across the board. Rather than a corporation focusing on just profit for the shareholders, a Benefit Corporation is required to focus on the public benefit.

"We hope that you are inspired, not just by our vision, but by the movement’s ability to translate opportunity into action."

Cellular Recycler is R2 Certified

Cellular Recycler receives industry leading R2 certification

Cellular Recycler LLC, a top 5 end-of-life e-waste management company with concentration on wireless technology located in Boulder, Colorado, is proud to announce its recent R2 "Responsible Recycling" certification. The company has always operated intently to strict recycling and focus material disposition.

For our wireless carriers our firm will mitigate their e-waste disposal risks by meeting the highest industry recycling and environmental standards. We will continually work directly with corporations, state and local agencies, as well as the non profit sector offering environmentally responsible solutions for the handling and recycling of end of life telecommunication devices. Each recycling operation that becomes R2 certified not only sets themselves apart as an industry leader, but they become part of the movement to raise the overall industry standards for operations and material handling.  

What R2 certification means to Cellular Recycler vendors:

R2 distinguishes Cellular Recycler as a top 5 leader and we have chosen this certification because:

• We care about the environment here in the U.S., and globally 
• We take environmental responsibilities seriously 
• We know data security is a top priority 
• We adhere to the highest industry standards and best practices 
• We are a top 5 industry leader in operations, and environmental education & large lot wholesale disposition 
• And because our objective is to educate corporate staffers to the importance of a sustainable mission 

Being an R2 Certified electronics recycler involves heightened compliance in data security and environmental practices and procedures. It also prohibits the export of equipment and components containing materials to developing countries unless the transaction is legal under both the export and import countries' laws and the receiving facility meets the criteria of an appropriate downstream vendor.

R2 is the leading standard for the electronics recycling industry setting a high bar for practices that protect the environment, human health, safety and the security of the recycling process.

Cellular Recycler is Colorado's newest R2 Certified Responsible Recycling Company. We would like to thank all of our current vendors and customers for your support. Cellular Recycler will continue to invest in our environment for this generation as well as future generations to come.

Are you getting the whole pie or just a slice?

So, in efforts to outsource their ‘sales’ department, companies have created programs where kids can sell their products and receive commission on the sale. These programs are by no means evil, in fact they have no doubt raised millions of dollars for schools around the nation, and filled countless stomachs with delectable delights.

But, shouldn’t a fundraiser be more than just asking people to buy an overpriced item they’ll have to wait weeks to receive?

The appeal of food fundraisers is that you selling such an tasty (albeit unhealthy) product that the product will sell itself. But how is somebody expected to shell out $25 for a pizza when they can have one delivered by Pizza Hut for $10?

Well my fundraising idea isn’t selling any product, its simply collecting the old cell phones that people (correctly) have chosen not to throw away. Skeptical? You should be after you’ve being pitched every other fundraiser in the book.

Well, let’s start off with this one simple question: How many phones do you have sitting at your house gathering dust, 2,3,4? If you answered none, I’m betting that either your 10 years old, have thrown them away, or hopefully recycled them.

Collect them up and send them in (shipping’s on me) and I’ll pay you more than a buck per phone. I can either re-sell them for re-use or melt them down for their precious metals like gold.
We’ll inventory them for you, e-mail you the report & send you a check, not points or some other arbitrary abstraction of money.

E-Waste (Electronic waste) is the fastest growing waste stream in America, and wouldn’t you rather have your students/kids being part of the solution and fundraise at the same time?

Are you getting the whole pie or just a slice?

Meet The Boss - Stockholm Central Station

I wanted to introduce you to a really useful site called Meet The Boss I located within my Green group on LinkedIn.

The site is stuffed with video interview of leaders of the worlds biggest companies providing advice, insights and information about how they got to where they are and tips for business success.

The site has some good content on green topics such as sustainability and the triple bottom line but is focused on more general business topics that provide valuable learning.

Below is an interesting example of one of the videos on the site I found fascinating and I am sure you will too!

Stockholm Central Station uses excess body heat as heating for a nearby office building.

According to a report by the BBC, each individual creates about 100 watts of heat but this is noticeably increased when doing non-vigorous activities such as shopping or eating. The Central Station in Stockholm is the ideal place, whereby around 250,000 people pass through per day and there is surplus of body heat. The question is how is the body heat used for heating?

Hit the Video Link to SEE more!

President Obama addresses E-waste

In a historic address President Obama signed a proclamation for America to become a world leader in sustainable electronics recycling. On November 15th (America Recycles Day), the President as well as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that greater attention must be given to how our country discards consumer electronics.

While the recycling and reuse of plastics, aluminum and paper have steadily been on the rise, very little has been done to manage our e-waste safely. However, recent media coverage on the amount of hazardous materials and rare minerals that end up in landfills and countries like China and India has changed the climate on our recycling in this country.

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said, "Used electronics represent the fastest growing segment of local solid waste in our country."



Nancy Sutley, Chair of CEQ said, "The federal government has a responsibility to ensure that its own waste is properly managed and recycled. Identifying opportunities to reuse the valuable resources contained in most disposed electronic devices is an important part of our obligation to protect human health and the environment."

Companies like Cellular Recycler of Boulder, CO have been responsibly recycling cellphones for over 7 years. Safely collecting, refurbishing, and reselling cellphones is a needed part of the sustainable electronics recycling. We can learn a great deal from companies like this and replicate the model to cover computers, cameras, gaming devices and other electronics from ending up in landfills and polluting our environment.



The President's address brings hope and opportunity to make America a world leader in sustainable electronics.

For more information and to be a part of this exiciting movement please join us below.

Click an icon above to find out more about us!

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Finally... Smartphone apps meet Automakers

This has been a long awaited marriage. It must be the bureaucracy of car making, or the intricate ties with government regulations, but cellphones have been meant to merge with cars since the beginning.
How nice would it be to have your car linked instantly with the web and all the amazing potential that comes with that?
Think about this new app Carbonga... it connects into your phones diagnostics board and give you instant feedback and explanations when your car engine light turns on. Or how about Sync, an Mp3 player and voice commanded text messaging app you can use while driving?

I believe this is the obvious progression of cars. With the increase of social media's integration into mainstream life, one would wonder when will cars be next?
That time has come. Brace yourselves, the entire driving experience is about to change.

If that doesn't excite you, then check out Google's self driving automobiles. That will surely be a game shaker.





Cellphones are becoming more and more versatile and integral to our existence. Lets keep them out of landfills and push their potentials to the limit.

Femtocells increase your coverage and stop iphone congestion

Ever heard of a Femtocell? These little chips act as mini cell towers, bringing cellphone service to areas that usually have spotty, at best coverage.

They also function as additional tower strength in areas where congestion is so bad that the networks slows down to a trickle. In these instances, it is good for reducing traffic temporarily because femtocells are much cheaper than actual cell towers.

It is a strange thing, that you sometime find yourself in a busy area and you can't make a phone call. Cell carriers are slowly figuring out new ways to enhance signal strength, but I think we're still a ways off from having full coverage everywhere. I imagine the newer phones will have better antennae and be capable themselves of enhancing the signal no matter where you are. Either way, cellphones are seemingly becoming better but the service isn't.

For now, I wouldn't recommend looking into a femtocell unless you aren't getting service at your home or office but need to.

Metro PCS has Verizon's number.... Today.....

It is not often the little guy beats the big boys to the punch but today Metro PCS executives can walk the halls with their heads held high. Metro PCS Inc has launched the 4G wireless broadband phone that still has the signature no contract option which makes the small carrier's new device attractive in a LARGE way.

Deposit check on your cellphone!

Now this is cool.

Have you ever felt like you'll never have the time to bring those burdening checks to the bank before they expire? Well fear not.

Now, some banks are allowing you to do this on your cellphone! Simply take a photo of the check and send it off to your band via a bank app and voila! Money in the bank, never been so easy.

"The process is terrifically simple", says one loyal Chase Bank Iphone User.

What makes this so revolutionary? You don't have to go to the branch anymore. Scratch that off the list, just deposit checks from home.

If you're feeling tech savvy enough, you just might never have to go to the bank again. Thank technology for that.

Enjoy,

now go and spend more time where you want to

Would you like to pay with cash, credit or your cellphone?

New technology is in the works via Apple inc. to create a fully-functional payment system that simply requires your cellphone. The mundance activity of using a credit card was once a novel experience. But today, many people don't even use cash anymore.
"The advent of the mobile Web and smartphones could push the banking industry through some major changes."
People seem to enjoy and increasingly adhere to the simplicity inherent in smartphone technology. With the incorporation of paying via phone, we may an even further streamlined integration of cellphone technology with the rest of market and economy.
Be prepared to quickly find yourself shopping with your phone.

Cellphone Dryer Box from Japan Will Dry Your Cellphone, Perhaps Save it From Doom

Look out Boulder; Cellular Recycler has one of the cell phone driers on back order from Japan. We will soon be able to speed up repair time and save labor cost for customers who have inadvertently gotten their phone wet.

This little gizmo will further our cause for reusing all electronics that pass through the doors of our company.

3 Reasons Why a Ban on E-waste Exports is Wrong

Although electronic waste can be harmful to people and the enviornment, banning it outright can have negative impacts too. Discovery News has flipped the coin and given three insightful reasons how electronics are put to use in developing countries who desparately need thier economy stimulated by advancing communication:

1) Trade bans have negative economic and social impacts by cutting jobs in the refurbishment sector and reducing supply to used markets.

2) Trade bans push the backyard recycling toward the black market.

3) Within a decade, more e waste will be generated in the developing world compared to the developed, waste that without other interventions will be recycled with high enviornmental impacts.

Time to unlock those iPhones (legally!)

A recent discussion and law passed on 'digital rights' from the Library of Congress, acknowledging the legitimacy of unlocking and jailbreaking cellphones.

Even now, Apple frowns on the jailbreaking of its iphones by voiding warranties and refusing to help solve technical issues for the customers. However, this 'freeing' of cellphones from parent companies and cellphone service providers is officially a legal activity even though it has never been actually illegal.

This is a great step for the American public towards gaining more upper-hand in the monopolistic battle between the customers and the service providers. Unlike the majority of the world, American providers lock their cellphones for specifically their own service, as opposed to having unlocked phones in which one can freely choose which service to use.

Cellphone recyclers like ourselves will become more valuable as people become more aware of the option to buy any phone and then choose their service.

Attempting to establish a world record

Congratulations to Johnson County in Kansas City Missouri for taking a tough task and putting a unique twist of encouragement to its residents. "Its a good feeling to give your electronic waste a second life" says Betsy Betros, the counties director of pollution control. "Technology is not going to stop, and we don't want it to. But we do have finite resources. Threes only one planet Earth'. Johnson County submitted results of their four tractor loads to the Guinness Book of records and are waiting to hear the result

Curing Cancer One Cell Phone at a Time

The Notre Dame office of Sustainibility is collecting cell phones for the American Cancer Society:

Cutting back on phone e-waste

Great article today in the Daily Camera.

"Cellular Recycler has been refurbishing and recycling phones in Boulder since 2003. Operations manager Jason Gelfand said the company, which employees 38 people at a large warehouse space in Central Boulder, refurbishes or recycles up to 100,000 phones each month."

Read more:

Cellphones go 3D!

Televisions sets, movie theaters and now Cellphones! The world is going 3D, leaving behind a once adored 2D, simple life.
With new technology that can actually keep track of which eye is looking at the screen, software engineers have discovered how to create video games and movies for handheld devices that targets each eye. When you send a slightly different screen to each eye, you create 3D, or rather depth perception.
Leading the game is Nokia and Hitachi, who have already produced 3D phones and are working on advancing the idea. These developers believe 2011 will bring 3D full circle in all forms of modern technology and soon become a norm for our society.
This advance, once again, will yield a whole generation of cellphones rendered useless by some but goldmines for others. Visit Cellular Recycler for more info.