An innovative new idea to help with new the problem of mobile phone recycling has been created.
ecoATMs are self-service automated eCycling stations that capture, track and recycle or reuse old mobile phones. The kiosks scan the phones to establish their exact value and pay consumers on the spot.
The initiative is being backed by Coinstar who is a leading provider of automated retail services such as self-service DVD rental and coin-counting kiosks in the US.
The president and chief operating officer of Coinstar said: “We believe ecoATM could be a viable business as it provides an easy way for consumers to properly resell and/or recycle the more than $7 billion in used mobile phones that are annually retired in the U.S. while creating a sustainable secondary market for these devices.”
ecoATM is based in San Diego, and currently has seven pilot kiosks in the United States. Consumers have the choice of being paid in cash, gift cards or coupons. Phones that are collected are either re-sold into the secondary market or recycled. The company has aggressive plans to expand, both in the U.S. and internationally.
The chief executive officer of ecoATM said regarding the initiative: “ecoATM delivers convenience and immediate financial incentive to consumers looking to retire used devices and simultaneously creates a new standard of accountability and responsibility for the reuse of electronic devices.”