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Recycle Your Cellphones With Randam
Take 1 minute to open desk drawers.
- 500,000 phones are discarded daily worldwide. Chances are you are one of the 500,000.
- Recycle your unwanted, unused cellphones and actively help us to eliminate e-waste.
Where does my phone go after I recycle it? Depending on the phone’s condition, some phones are refurbished and reused. We work with re-sellers as well as charities to make sure your old phone goes to someone who will really appreciate it. Phones that are unrepairable are safely broken down by the most accredited refiners and the salvageable parts are reused to build other electronics.
Recycling? Good For You! But Only When Done Responsibly
You want to recycle? Good for you! Now time to do your research. Some recyclers and refiners — who may be making the environment a little greener by re-using parts that may have otherwise ended up in landfills or piled in desk drawers — may not be using the cleanest of safest methods to do so.
For example, this article describes a company oversees with workers who are unmasked and ungloved as they deal with acids exposing them to poisonous lead and mercury.
That’s why the EPA encourages certifications and that certified companies work with fellow certified companies. There are two certificates that reflect a high level of commitment to responsible recycling.
1. The e-Stewards Standard for Responsible Recycling
The e-Stewards Standard for Responsible Recycling and Reuse of Electronic Equipment® is an industry-specific environmental management system standard designed as the basis for the e-Stewards Certification. It was developed with detailed input from experts in the recycling and asset recovery industries, the environmental community, occupational health and safety professionals, and the certification and accreditation industries. Embedded within the e-Stewards Standard is ISO 14001, which is the global standard for environmental management systems. Click here for more.
2. The Responsible Recycling Practices (R2)
Developed by the EPA, R2 recognizes responsible material management and quality recycling. R2 requires a recycler to comply with all legal requirements, including imports and exports, protect workers health and safety and the environment, refurbish and properly test reusable equipment and components and keep detailed records.
Are you a certified recycler? Tell us about your company (include your url) in the comments box below or email us: RandamRecycling(at)gmail(dot)com.
The New Gold Rush
The gold rush of the 1800s has taken a new form in cellphones. Mining the precious metals in cellphones has become a profitable business. An article published in the Wall Street Journal in February 2011 titled Entrepreneurs Find Gold in Used Phones said that the phones that have no use – completely outdated or non-repairable are sent to refurbishers to mine its precious metals.
CNET goes a step further. They show you the specs of gold on a cellphone circuit board. Cell phones yield up to 150 grams (15.3 ounces) of gold per ton, compared to five grams per ton of ore, according to Urban Mining.
The parts inside these phones are filled with the commodities whose prices continue to rise. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, recycling 100 million cellphones could save approximately 7,500 pounds of gold.
So, open that desk drawer and break open that old broken phone.
Randam Recycling 