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

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.

Federal Communications Commission to create bill to warn of high cellphone bills

A common symptom of the American cellphone 'contract' is what we like to call ' bill shock '. You sign up for what you think is a good deal with companies like Verizon, T-mobile, AT&T in hopes of saving money. But once you're locked into your contract, crazy things can happen... Like excessive roaming or data charges that you were unaware of; sometimes in the hundreds of dollars.

BUT, alas, the F.C.C. is seeking to create a bill that will require these cellphone companies to warn customers before enacting outrageous roaming charges.

Perhaps this will revive some of the growing population that is fed up with contracts and the companies that are selling them. Either way it is time for these companies to be more responsible and sensible in how they treat their customers.

Top Cell Phone by Carrier

Ginny Miles from PC World has given us an in depth look at the top 5 phones from the top 4 US Carriers.
"Shopping for a cell phone can be overwhelming; after all, these devices do a whole lot more than just make phone calls. So which Carrier has the best selection of phones"?

Top 5 Verizon Phones

Top 5 T-Mobile Phones

Top 5 AT&T phones

Top 5 Sprint Phones

You have to pay attention to these phone models as they will pave the way in two to three years for the phones that Cellular Recycler will be recycling and re selling all over the world. What was yesterdays RAZR is today's Droid and iPhone.

Target to begin Cellphone recycling!

The massive corporation and everything store Target has begun collecting cellphones and old ipods in celebration of this years upcoming Earth Day!











This is exciting news, as millions of Americans regularly shop at Target stores across the country and will be exposed to simple, accessible and free electronics recycling. Up until now, finding a local source for recycling electronics has been difficult. However, with Target now reaching a majority of this country, recycling should be easy.

If you feel you could earn money from your old phones, then try selling them on craigslist, or shipping them to a recycling company like Cellular Recycler to get some money for them.

This is exciting progress for nationwide recycling efforts and corporate involvement.

More companies, bigger market, more money

Cash for old electronics has become a popularized form of recycling. A dream for many of us 'die-hard environmentalists' has always been to create a reward system to encourage recycling behavior.

The (EPA) has announced a dramatic increase in companies that are making this dream come true. Today, there are more opportunities to recycle those electronics than ever before... and make some cash at it.

Not even 5 years ago there were no avenues to dispose of electronics, let alone recycle them without sending them to the landfill grave.

Now there is a flourishing market with numerous companies out there waiting to help you and keep our electronics out of the landfills.

Check out some of these websites for more info.

Earth 911

BuyMyTronics

Gazelle

YouRenew

CellularRecycler

Would you remember to recycle your phone for a lottery ticket?

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) recently launched a nationwide cell phone recycling campaign incentivized by essentially, a lottery. When you buy another new phone and recycle your old one, you’ll receive a “gift voucher” potentially worth $540, $54, or $11.

What’s really smart about this program is that the Japan’s METI has essentially found a way to provide a significant ‘potential’ value for the consumer by recycling their cell phone instead of trying to offer a complicated buy back’ program which provides a specific value for each phone, many of which would be worth $.25 to $2. The vast majority of cell phones not in use today are worth very little when turning them into a recycler or buyback program due to all of the logistics, processing and labor it takes to turn that phone around into a usable refurbished unit.

How many people do you know that would remember to dig out their old cell phone from the closet, and turn it in for a quarter? Not worth it right?

Well what if you could get a lottery ticket worth over $500? The bottom line is people are much more likely to do something if you turn it into a game or ‘lottery’ in this case. I absolutely love this idea and can’t wait to see if it garners any success in Japan.