
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

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
Partners in Action!
Learn how they turn recycling electronics into the conservation of critically endangered species.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
"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
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
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 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.
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.
1 Riverside Dr
Camden, NJ 08103
800 Fort Negley Blvd
Nashville, TN 37203
African Safari Wildlife Park
267 S. Lighter Rd.
Port Clinton, OH 43452
1664 Venable Road
Hope Hull, AL 36043
903 10th St. SW
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Audubon Zoo
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Brevard Zoo
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Central Florida Zoo
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01 N Holtzclaw Ave.
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4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Road
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3400 Vine St.
Cincinnati, OH 45220
3900 Wildlife Way
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Columbus Zoo
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1225 Estabrook Dr.
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650 South R.L. Thornton Freeway
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8450 W 10 Mile Rd
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5048 - 264th Street
Aldergrove, BC V4W 1N7
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Multiple sites throughout Ohio's Hamilton County
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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
6200 Hermann Park Dr.
Houston, TX 77030
1595 Spring Hill Rd. Suite 550
Vienna, VA 22182
Jenkinson's Aquarium
300 Ocean Avenue
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
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2001 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60614
2003 Lion Country Safari Rd.
Loxahatchee, FL 33470
5333 Zoo Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
1100 Trevilian Way
Louisville, KY 40213
1 Safari Place
Baltimore, MD 21217
Memphis Zoo
2000 Prentiss Pl
Memphis, TN 38112
10001 W Bluemound Rd
Milwaukee, WI 53226
13000 Zoo Blvd.
Apple Valley, MN 55124
4401 Zoo Pkwy
Asheboro, NC 27205
9777 Golf Links Rd.
Oakland, CA 94605
2101 NE 50th St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73111
Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
7340 Butler St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Zoological Dr
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Potawatomi Zoo
500 South Greenlawn Ave.
South Bend, IN 46615
500 Wildlife Parkway
Columbia, SC 29210
Racine Zoo
2131 N Main St,
Racine, WI 53402
1000 Elmwood Avenue
Providence, Rhode Island 02907
1219 Burdick Expressway East
Minot, ND 58701
500 Niños Drive
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Sloat Blvd and Upper Great Hwy
San Francisco, CA 94132
Smithsonian's National Zoo
3001 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20008
1 Government Dr.
St Louis, MO 63110
2 Hippo Way
Toledo, OH 43609
2600 East Sunnyside Avenue
Salt Lake City, Utah 84108
3500 Granby St.
Norfolk, VA 23504
Virginia Safari Park
229 Safari Lane
Natural Bridge, VA 24578
75 Gashes Creek Rd
Asheville, NC 28805
5500 Phinney Ave N.
Seattle, WA 98103
800 Cherokee Ave.
Atlanta, GA 30315
Zoo Boise
355 Julia Davis Drive
Boise, Idaho 83702
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12400 SW 152nd St.
Miami, FL 3317
1 Franklin Park Rd.
Boston, MA 02121