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It's absurd that the planet  & its creatures must suffer for us to enjoy electronics;                                                                                                                            

AND offer consumers a way to join the in the solution by recycling them.

that's why we focus on the issues surrounding gadgets

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Thank you-We will get back to you shortly.

Gadgets we recycle:

cell phones, smartphones, iPhones, iPods, iPads, tablets, Apple\Android watches, bluetooth, tablets. GPS, MP3 players, e-readers, digital cameras, handheld gaming systems and the accessories that come with them.

 

We don't care if your gadgets are broken, old, locked, drowned or bedazzled. 

The point is-conserve species, deter e-waste and  get in/evolved.

*Please note that our program is geared for recycling projects, not individual buybacks

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Partners in Action!  

Learn how they turn recycling electronics into the conservation of critically endangered species. 

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From Buffalo to Salt Lake City and Dallas to Toronto - An amazing zoo and aquarium partner movement across the continent collecting mobile phones for gorilla conservation. Recycling old phones/electronics raises money to directly support gorilla conservation initiatives through Gorilla SAFE programs.

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HOUSTON ZOO- Action for Apes

The Action for Apes Challenge is a yearly contest hosted by the Houston Zoo to see which school or community organization can recycle the most cell phones. By recycling old phones with the zoo you can help protect animals like chimpanzees and gorillas that live in areas where cell phone materials are mined.

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GRACE: The Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Center works in DRC to rehabilitate orphaned Grauer’s gorillas so they can one day return to the wild. GRACE is teaming up with ECO-CELL, a leading electronics recycler, to make it easy for you to make a difference for Grauer’s gorillas. 

JANE GOODALL INSTITUTE-Why did we choose ECO-CELL?

"Electronic recycling is a complicated industry and only a company with the right motivations and practices could align with JGI's mission to protect chimpanzees, and all great apes, as well as the environment we share."

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CINCINNATI ZOO- A direct way for guests and supporters to join the Zoo in making a difference by recycling cell phones. Funds raised go directly to field conservation projects across the globe, including western lowland gorilla studies in the Congo. 

Partners in Action

Apes and Gadgets?

Electronics are connected to apes via an ore called Coltan (columbite-tantalite\tantalum).  Tantalum coats the capacitors inside gadgets which makes them energy efficient. This ore is found in great quantity in the Congo, home to the critically endangered gorilla and chimpanzee. These species are being killed by rebel bands mining Coltan. The U.N. has reported that in the past five years the eastern lowland gorilla population in the Congo has declined 90%. Recycling your cell phones with ECO-CELL helps save these animals by reducing the demand for Coltan and by providing funds for our partners who are actively engaged in protecting these species.

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"When we heard of ECO-CELL we were like-that is a no brainer to collaborate with that program. Here we are talking about Coltan and now we can give people a tangible to help gorillas directly through recycling cell phones." -Ron Evans Curator of Primates, Cincinnati Zoo

Project Saving Species
ENDANGERED SPECIES
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Electronics done right

Electronics have a tremendous impact on the planet, more so than any other consumer product. A single smartphone for instance requires 13 tons of water and 18M² of land to create! Not to mention the rare minerals and metals required- including tantalum, tungsten, tin and gold which are mined in endangered species habitats.

ECO-CELL identifies these areas for improvement to mitigate the environmental damage done by electronics

       

-Use electronics for as long as possible-only upgrade when necessary

-Recycle gadgets to reclaim precious metals and deter toxins from the environment

-Reuse functioning gadgets to extend technology lifespans

-Design gadgets modularly so that consumers can upgrade components instead of refreshing the entire device

-Design gadgets with the entire lifecycle in mind

-Support consumers right to repair their own electronics

Lastly, electronics manufacturers and service providers-lean into the issues surrounding the creation of your products. Consider it a business opportunity to be the most transparent and environmentally conscious electronics company on earth. Clean up your supply chains. For each gadget you create and sell donate $ to one of our incredible gorilla conservation partners. Make this same opportunity to participate in conservation available to each of your customers as a part of their purchase transaction.

 

FACT: According to the EPA an estimated 1.5 billion smartphones are sold worldwide each year. Less than 20 percent are recycled. In the US alone there are more than half a billion cell phones ready for recycling, and more than 11 million phones are added to that total each month

 

ELECTRONICS & THE ENVIRONMENT
Chemistry

The chemistry of gadgets

Electronics are incredibly complex and contain nearly all the elements on the periodic table. Notably, rare earth metals as well as silver and gold. It is estimated that the average smartphone contains 30mg of gold and 300mg of silver which can be reclaimed by recycling. 

 

There are also many toxins found in gadgets. Landfilling gadgets pollutes groundwater with lead, magnesium, arsenic and antimony among others. The effects of exposure to these elements range from kidney damage and cancer to Alzheimer's disease.

ABOUT US

About ECO-CELL

SMALL BUSINESS

ECO-CELL was founded in 2003, or as we saw it "the year of the Nokia 8310". That is when we learned about the connection between gorillas and cell phones at the Louisville Zoo. Nearly 1 MILLION cell phones later we are still at it. In short we are small, family owned and operated business in Louisville Kentucky that is 100% focused on the environment. Some days we win, some days we lose but regardless we try and keep it real.

STRICTLY NO-LANDFILL

We reuse first and then recycle because It takes a TON of energy and resources to create an electronic device. Plus its best for the environment if we use it until it is obsolete. Once a device is determined to be "end of life" we recycle it properly with certified smelting and reclamation firms AKA "The Downstream".

ACCESSIBLE

For real talk give us a shout at  502.565.7829 or email eric@eco-cell.com. We would LOVE to hear from you about any aspect of the program or just to chat.

FLEXIBLE

One size does not fit all in this business. If you have an idea about the program and wish to engage us in an unconventional way we look forward to hearing how.  

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FAQ's

How do we get paid?

The process is very straightforward: collect as many electronic gadgets as possible and send them to ECO-CELL (Don't worry we pay shipping). When the phones arrive at ECO-CELL we determine their reuse\resale value. If they can be reused we resell them and pass as much $$$ back to you as possible. If your gadgets are obsolete we recycle them properly and pay you their recycle value. After we process your shipment we follow it up with an itemized statement of your order and a check within 30-45 days.

Is there a cost to our organization?

Absolutely not! Your time and labor to aggressively promote your collection are the only costs.

Does ECO-CELL pick up?

Yes, and it's free. 

Why should people recycle their gadgets with ECO-CELL?

Because we are a family owned and operated micro-business trying to scratch out a living in an unconventional, environment-first kind of way.

What electronic gadgets do you recycle?

cell phones, smartphones, iPhones, iPods, iPads, tablets, Apple\Android watches, bluetooth, tablets. GPS, MP3 players, e-readers, digital cameras, handheld gaming systems and the accessories that come with them.

 

What happens to the gadgets, batteries and accessories that can't be reused?

All items which can't be reused are recycled via R2 certified or better reclamation companies.

How does ECO-CELL use the information it collects from its participants?

ECO-CELL is an ANTI-SPAM company. Under no circumstances will ECO-CELL rent, sell, loan or otherwise mistreat any information collected from its participants.

DATA SECURITY: What do I need to do before I send my gadgets to ECO-CELL?

ECO-CELL does not clear data from the devices it recycles. It is highly recommended that you clear data from your devices before sending them in for recycling. If unsure of this procedure please visit this link for instructions  NYT\Wirecutter article for data erasure. 

 

-For Apple devices please turn off "FMI" Find my iPhone, remove iCloud account and remove screen lock password.

-For Android users please log out of all Google and Samsung accounts before recycling then remove any screen lock password.  

 

My organization is a FOR PROFIT? Can I still work with you?

Absolutely! We love working with corporations and FOR-PROFITS. Email eric@eco-cell.com to get involved.

FAQ's

Adventure Aquarium

1 Riverside Dr

Camden, NJ 08103

Adventure Science Center

800 Fort Negley Blvd

Nashville, TN 37203

African Safari Wildlife Park

267 S. Lighter Rd.

Port Clinton, OH 43452

Alabama Safari Park

1664 Venable Road

Hope Hull, AL 36043

ABQ BIOPARK

903 10th St. SW

Albuquerque, NM 87104

Audubon Zoo

6500 Magazine St.

New Orleans, LA 70118

Binder Park Zoo

7400 Division Dr.

Battle Creek, MI 49014

 

Blank Park Zoo

7401 SW 9th Street

Des Moines, IA 50315

Brevard Zoo

8225 N. Wickham Rd.

Melbourne, FL 32940

Brookfield Zoo

8400 W 31st St

Brookfield, IL 60513


Buffalo Zoo

300 Parkside Ave

Buffalo, NY 14214

Central Florida Zoo

3755 W Seminole Blvd.

Sanford, FL 32771

Chattanooga Zoo

01 N Holtzclaw Ave.

Chattanooga, TN 37404

 

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Road   
Colorado Springs, CO 80906


Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

3400 Vine St.

Cincinnati, OH 45220

Cleveland Zoo

3900 Wildlife Way

Cleveland, OH 44109

Columbus Zoo

4850 W Powell Rd.

Powell, OH 43065

 

Como Park Zoo & Conservatory

1225 Estabrook Dr.

St Paul, MN 55103

Dallas Zoo

650 South R.L. Thornton Freeway

Dallas, TX  75203

Detroit Zoo

8450 W 10 Mile Rd

Royal Oak, MI 48067


Greater Vancouver Zoo

5048 - 264th Street

Aldergrove, BC V4W 1N7

Great Parks of Hamilton County

Multiple sites throughout Ohio's Hamilton County

Gulf Breeze Zoo
5701 Gulf Breeze Parkway
Gulf Breeze, FL 32563

 

Happy Hollow
1300 Senter Road
San Jose, CA 95112

Henry Vilas Zoo

702 S Randall Ave.

Madison, WI 53715

Houston Zoo

6200 Hermann Park Dr.

Houston, TX 77030

Jane Goodall Institute

1595 Spring Hill Rd. Suite 550

Vienna, VA 22182

Jenkinson's Aquarium

300 Ocean Avenue

Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742

Kansas City Zoo

6800 Zoo Dr, Kansas City, MO 64132

Lincoln Park Zoo

2001 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60614

Lion Country Safari

2003 Lion Country Safari Rd.

Loxahatchee, FL 33470

Los Angeles Zoo

5333 Zoo Dr.

 Los Angeles, CA 90027

Louisville Zoo

1100 Trevilian Way

Louisville, KY 40213

Maryland Zoo

1 Safari Place

Baltimore, MD 21217

Memphis Zoo

2000 Prentiss Pl

Memphis, TN 38112

Milwaukee County Zoo

10001 W Bluemound Rd
Milwaukee, WI 53226

Minnesota Zoo

13000 Zoo Blvd. 

Apple Valley, MN 55124

North Carolina Zoo

4401 Zoo Pkwy

Asheboro, NC 27205

Oakland Zoo

9777 Golf Links Rd.

Oakland, CA 94605

Oklahoma City Zoo

2101 NE 50th St.

Oklahoma City, OK 73111

 

Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium

7340 Butler St.

Pittsburgh, PA 15206

Philadelphia Zoo

Zoological Dr

Philadelphia, PA 19104

Potawatomi Zoo

500 South Greenlawn Ave.

South Bend, IN 46615

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden

500 Wildlife Parkway

Columbia, SC 29210

Racine Zoo

2131 N Main St,

Racine, WI 53402

Roger Williams Park Zoo

1000 Elmwood Avenue
Providence, Rhode Island 02907

Roosevelt Park Zoo

1219 Burdick Expressway East

 Minot, ND 58701

 

Santa Barbara Zoo

500 Niños Drive

Santa Barbara, CA 93103  

 

San Francisco Zoo

Sloat Blvd and Upper Great Hwy

San Francisco, CA 94132

   
Smithsonian's National Zoo

3001 Connecticut Ave NW

Washington, DC 20008

St. Louis Zoo

1 Government Dr.

St Louis, MO 63110 

 

Toledo Zoo

2 Hippo Way

Toledo, OH 43609

Utah's Hogle Zoo

2600 East Sunnyside Avenue

Salt Lake City, Utah 84108

 

Virginia Zoo

3500 Granby St.

Norfolk, VA 23504

Virginia Safari Park
229 Safari Lane
Natural Bridge, VA 24578

WNC Nature Center

75 Gashes Creek Rd

Asheville, NC 28805

Woodland Park Zoo

5500 Phinney Ave N.

Seattle, WA 98103

Zoo Atlanta

800 Cherokee Ave.

Atlanta, GA 30315

Zoo Boise

355 Julia Davis Drive

Boise, Idaho 83702

Zoo Miami

12400 SW 152nd St.

Miami, FL 3317

Zoo New England

1 Franklin Park Rd.

Boston, MA 02121

 

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