ECO-CELL - E-cycling for your cause

Top Recycling Partners of 2012

brian@eco-cell.com — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 18:08:53 +0000

Our recycling partners continue to impress!

With a strong commitment to outreach, education and green practices, our top partners of 2012 deserve a round of applause.

Below are the top 20 partners, listed with the number of devices recycled in 2012.

Cincinnati Zoo 11,011
Credo Mobile 7841
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center 5155
Calgary Zoo 2970
DFGFI- Zoo Atlanta 2623
Calvin Christian 1834
Edmonton Valley Zoo 1368
AAZK Lion Country 1311
Louisville Zoo 1282
Houston Zoo 1266
San Diego Zoo 1229
Denver Zoo 1162
Pittsburgh Zoo 1145
Cheyenne Mountain 1109
Zoo Miami 1078
Philadelphia Zoo 938
Bill Oroz 769
Henry Vilas Zoo 726
Como Park 709
Golden St. Wireless 696

Edmonton Valley Zoo: our newest Silverback

brian@eco-cell.com — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 17:36:27 +0000

Edmonton Valley Zoo is the newest member of our Silverback program. The zoo collected 1368 devices in 2012, earning membership in our Silverback rewards program.

ECO-CELL established the Silverback Program to reward this level of commitment to electronics recycling. Once a partner recycles 1000 devices with ECO-CELL, that organization enjoys:

Silverbacks receive at least $0.45 per phone, regardless of age or condition.
Featured placement on our website and Silverback Locator map
Free customized collection box artwork

Way to go Edmonton!

Louisville PSA with Councilwoman Tina Ward-Pugh

brian@eco-cell.com — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 15:12:00 +0000

This year, ECO-CELL has been working with a team of volunteers and representatives of our Louisville Metro Council to help lead green initiatives in our hometown. By partnering with The Green Triangle, ECO-CELL is making e-cycling easy for individuals and businesses in Louisville. In our local District 9, neighbors are recycling e-waste to provide financial support for sustainability projects in the neighborhood.

Louisville Metro Councilwoman Tina Ward-Pugh and MetroTV recorded a public service announcement on the program, and we invite you to check out the video below, and learn more at mygreentriangle.com.

Video can be also be found at: MetroTV

Mid-year totals of top recyclers

brian@eco-cell.com — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 18:12:08 +0000

As we reach the mid-year point, we wanted to acknowledge our highest collecting partners to date.

Mid-Year 2012 Top Ten Electronics Recycling Partners:

Cincinnati Zoo, 6462
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, 4342
DFGFI\Zoo Atlanta, 1320
Calvin Christian Collegiate, 1228
Zoo Miami, 1078
Houston Zoo, 1061
Calgary Zoo, 714
AAZK Lion Country Safari, 670
Como Park Zoo, 579
San Diego Zoo, 578

For reference, take a look at the Top Ten of 2011. Thanks to effective collection drives, outreach efforts, and active promotion of the program, these collectors set the standard for cell phone recycling programs in 2011:

Cincinnati Zoo, 15415
Calgary Zoo, 7338
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, 4095
San Diego Zoo, 2714
Calvin Christian Collegiate, 2651
Lion Country, 1730
Louisville Zoo, 1655
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, 1470
Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, 1352
DFGFI–Zoo Atlanta, 1084

ECO-CELL and CREDO Mobile Partnership

brian@eco-cell.com — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 22:10:13 +0000

CREDO Mobile and ECO-CELL partnership

ECO-CELL has been selected as the exclusive recycler of cell phones for CREDO mobile. CREDO is a cell-phone service provider based in California and has been a champion of progressive causes and a range of social, political, and environmental issues. CREDO has also raised and donated more than $70 Million to non-profit organizations committed to the same progressive values.

A natural partnership — green and clean

ECO-CELL and CREDO seem made for one another. Since 2003, ECO-CELL has been the premier electronics recycling firm for handhelds and cell phones. Our work has always been about more than a profitable business model: we put environment first and adhere to a strict recycling policy reflecting our uncompromising stance on positive environmental stewardship and responsible disposal of electronics.

ECO-CELL wants to change the way consumers think about resources and energy. Education, activism, and outreach are central to our mission. We work with more than 100 zoos, aquaria, and nature centers in North America to bring our message to children and adults.

HOW CREDO and ECO-CELL work together

CREDO offers cell phones plans to individuals who wish to “vote” with their dollars. Consumers have a choice: AT&T and other providers fund politicians and organizations with a right-wing agenda. CREDO supports progressive causes — and has donated more than $70 Million to non-profit orgs since 1985.

A free cell-phone recycling mailer is included with each new phone sold — customers return their old devices via postage-paid U.S. Mail to ECO-CELL in Louisville, Kentucky. We resell or recycle with partners who meet our very high environmental standards. A portion of the proceeds is returned to CREDO to support the CREDO network’s activism and philanthropic efforts.

Louisville’s Green Triangle electronics recycling

brian@eco-cell.com — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 17:03:55 +0000

ECO-CELL Program Funds Louisville Sustainability Projects

We’ve brought our cell phone recycling program to groups and zoos all over the country (and internationally) since 2003, but one of our latest projects is right in our own backyard. Literally.

ECO-CELL is a small business located in Louisville’s Ninth Metro Council District, currently represented by Councilwoman Tina Ward-Pugh. The office of Councilwoman Ward-Pugh provides support for the district’s Green Triangle — a community-guided sustainability initiative.

From the Louisville Green Triangle website:

The Green Triangle is partnering with Eco-Cell, a local business in the 9th District, to recycle handheld electronics to benefit the Green Triangle. For each item donated, materials will be kept out of the landfill and the Green Triangle will receive funds to make our community more sustainable.

Acceptable items include: cell phones, cell phone accessories, digital cameras, iPods and MP3 players, handheld game systems, GPS handheld units, laptops, e-readers and portable hard drives. All cords and related items can also be recycled.

This e-cycling program will help fund sustainability initiatives like:

Rain Gardens
Downspout Removal
Expanded Recycling
Bicycle Transportation

Check out the Green Triangle Blog for more information and drop-off locations.

http://www.mygreentriangle.com/Green-Initiatives/Electronics-Recycling.aspx

For updates on the Program and a list of drop-off locations

Download a flyer: Green Triangle 8.5 x 11 Flyer (PDF)

Oakland Zoo visitors learn about our program

brian@eco-cell.com — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 18:37:18 +0000

Recycle Cell Phones at Oakland Zoo

The Oakland Zoo is a committed partner and advocate for the ECO-CELL program. In this video, we see a group of young visitors learning about the connection between the components of cell phones and hand-held devices and their impact on gorilla and chimpanzee habitats. A succinct and simple explanation that both EDUCATES and CALLS one to ACTION. Great job Oakland Zoo!

On (and In) the Ground in the Congo

brian@eco-cell.com — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:45:15 +0000

You all know that our ECO-CELL mission is driven by a commitment to preserve and protect wildlife habitats, waterways, the environment, and the many oppressed people who live in fear and danger, denied justice and peace — all, simply to give us consumers a better “smartphone” and faster, lighter, nimbler technology.

Armed militia: an all-too common site in this "economy"

The video and article available at VICE guide to the Congo (external link, new window) paints a grim portrait of the situation in Congo. Atrocious conditions of fear and abuse are the norm. This is why we do the work we do.

As Eric said: “Sometimes I forget just how real the issue of Coltan mining really is sitting here in Louisville, KY. This guy threw it right back at me in a visceral way-made me glare at my smartphone. I know there aren’t any easy answers but from my perspective the change must come from the consumer. Me.”

“We’d come to Congo to try to find out more about the developed world’s thirst for coltan, cassiterite, and the other colorfully named minerals that make the electronics industry go round. These are part of a group of natural resources that have been dubbed “conflict minerals” because of the alphabet soup of armed groups (FARDC, CNDP, FDLR, PARECO, etc.) who have found them a very portable and highly profitable way to fund their activities—which mostly consist of killing people. Since 1996, these guerrilla insurgencies have led to the deaths of more than 5 million people, and in one particularly horrific year—2006—the rape of approximately 400,000 women.”

See the videos here: http://www.vice.com/vice-news/the-vice-guide-to-congo-1

Step one in building your handheld electronics.

30 years of “Kentuckians For The Commonwealth”

brian@eco-cell.com — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:35:26 +0000

In Fall 2010, ECO-CELL established a fundraising and ecycling partnership with Kentuckians For The Commonwealth (KFTC), described as a “statewide citizens organization working for a new balance of power and a just society.”

They have been doing it for 30 years. We are proud to play a role in this most worthy cause.

This ECO-CELL and KFTC e-cycling bin at Bluegrass Green is made of sustainable materials and bamboo. Bluegrass Green Co. is at 804 E. Market St. Louisville.

Read more about KFTC in their 30th anniversary book: “30 Years of Action for Justice” (external link, opens in new window).

And check out page 44 for our full page “thank you” note to KFTC for all their sustained, productive work to improve our state.

ECO-CELL and KFTC recycling boxes can be found throughout Kentucky

See http://www.kftc.org/ for more information and to get involved.

If you would like to host a collection box (free of charge), please send your request to eric@eco-cell.com

Urban Miner’s Field Guide

brian@eco-cell.com — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 19:01:49 +0000

ECO-CELL has compiled a helpful booklet to provide a broad overview of the issues surrounding e-waste and the threats to wildlife habitats and waterways. Protecting these habitats and resources is at the heart of the ECO-CELL mission.

The ECO-CELL Urban Miner’s Field Guide is a concise tool to help our many valued conservation partners to educate, inform, and act.

Download PDF here: ECO-CELL Urban Miner’s Field Guide

The Urban Miner's Field Guide shows our partner locations and more