eRecycling Corps envisions a “wireless device ecosystem” that relies on three parts: rewarding, renewing and reusing. Their aim is to lower the number of wireless devices that are sitting, unused, in American homes or being thrown away in landfills, where lead and toxic materials are released into environment.

According to the eRecycling Corps website and EPA studies linked there:

• 130 million new phones are purchased every year in the US, yet only 10% of old phones are recycled.
• Over 1 billion replaced wireless phones have accumulated in households across the US.
• More wireless devices are disposed of than any other kind of electronic device. 129 million wireless devices were thrown away in 2009, compared to 29.4 million computers and 22.7 million TVs. 
• Every 1 million devices recaptured has the potential to create power savings equivalent to the electricity used by 185 households yearly.

The reward phase of eRecycling Corps’ plan to reduce e-waste involves a scalable technology platform and web application for wireless device retailers. Retailers know customers want to recycle their phones if there is an incentive to do so. The eRecycling Corps platform allows retailers to project how much they will recapture from the sale of pre-owned phones and provides them with the channels to have the phones repaired and re-sold, oftentimes in the developing world. This allows the retailer to be the “good guy” when it comes to offering promotions and discounts to customers who recycle used phones.

For the renewal phase, eRecycling Corps has joined forces with Sprint Nextel and global supply chain companies to form the Device Renewal Forum (DRF). The DRF is in the process of creating certification standards for renewed wireless devices that will raise consumer confidence in pre-owned wireless devices. The renewal process involves more than what can be expected from a refurbished device (sometimes little more than a new plastic body for the device). Certified device processing and repair operations will follow the DRF’s industry-leading renewal guidelines as well as a strict data clearing and privacy approach. When a wireless device cannot be renewed, eRecycling Corps follows a strict zero landfill policy and recycles all parts of the device.

The reuse phase is where we see the greatest opportunity for eRecycling Corps to have a social impact. The high volume at which eRecycling Corps collects wireless devices allows them to offer a variety of devices and price points for consumers around the world. As eRecycling Corps brings more smartphones and reliable wireless devices to the developing world, they’ll improve access to technology, along with all of the social and economic value that comes with it!

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Interested in other ways that technology is used to promote recycling? Check out some of our past T4C blog articles: T4C: Preserve Gimme 5 and T4C: Trash Tycoon.

Singlebrook’s T4C campaign spotlights entrepreneurs and organizations that are using technology in unique ways to scale their ideas and create a massive impact. We are also creating our own high impact T4C projects. Check them out at: singlebrook.com/t4c. Share your stories of T4C or other inspirational resources and tips on Twitter (@Singlebrook) using #SBT4C and on the T4C Facebook group, or contact us to be spotlighted in an upcoming feature interview or blog article!