Kyocera Launches Phone Recycling Program

Because prepaid phones are generally a little less expensive than their more expensive contract counterparts, there’s probably a good chance that you have at least one old device sitting gathering dust in a drawer somewhere. However, phone maker Kyocera wants to help consumers recycle their unused devices with a new program called ‘Take Back.’ During this free program, consumers can print off shipping labels through Kyocera and, on Kyocera’s dime, send unused devices to the company for responsible recycling of the usable components. For every four phones recycled, Kyocera has pledged to donate $1 to Cell Phones For Soldiers, an organization which funds 30 minutes of long-distance phone service for military veterans and troops stationed away from home. “At Kyocera, sustainability has long been a part of how we think and work, and our hope is that this ‘Take Back’ program helps establish a widespread commitment to responsible e-waste recycling,” Eric Anderson, senior vice president and general manager of global sales and marketing at Kyocera Communications said in a press release. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, nearly 2 billion phones are sold every year globally but only about 13% of unused devices are recycled. If you aren’t able to take part of this program, check out this post with other options for using your old cell phones or places to donate them.]]>