ReCellular

ReCellular was a recycler and reseller of cell phones, founded in 1991. ReCellular collected cell phones for resale and recycling, collecting more than 125,000 phones each week.[1]

ReCellular
TypePrivate
IndustryRecycling
FateBankrupt
Founded1991
FounderCharles Newman
Defunct2013
HeadquartersAnn Arbor, Michigan
Key people
Charles Newman, Chairman
ProductsCell phones
Websitewww.mobilekarma.com

ReCellular moved its headquarters from Dexter, Michigan to Ann Arbor, Michigan in 2011, amid layoffs of about 70 people.[2] In 2013, it closed the Dexter facility and filed for receivership, a form of bankruptcy.[3]

Reuse and recycling

Approximately 60% [4] of the phones ReCellular collected were reprogrammed and sold for reuse. For the phones that are successfully repaired, " About half of the rebuilt phones end up with domestic re-sellers, the other half in developing countries in Africa, South America, and Asia. They typically sell for $16 to $18, of which ReCellular's partners receive as much as $5 to $10 per phone for charities of their choosing." [5]

Obsolete or non-functional phones are passed on to Sims Recycling Solutions to be dismantled and recycled in order to reclaim valuable materials, such as: gold, silver and palladium from circuit boards; copper wiring from phone chargers; nickel, iron, cadmium and lead from battery packs; and plastic from cases and accessories.[6]

In November 2006, the magazine Inc. named ReCellular to the Green 50.[7]

See also

References
  1. "Fighting e-waste one cell phone at a time". ITworld. 2008-11-25. Archived from the original on 2012-02-13. Retrieved 2014-01-15.
  2. "Layoffs hit cell phone recycling firm ReCellular despite 50% growth". AnnArbor.com.
  3. Freed, Ben (December 4, 2013). "ReCellular lays off more than 100 in Ann Arbor area and enters court-ordered receivership". mlive.com.
  4. "Hidden Sustainability; Revenue Streams". Global Cosmetic Industry. 177 (3): 1. March 2009 – via ebscohost.com.
  5. Baer, Martha (Nov 2006). "The Recyclers". Inc. 28: 2 – via ebscohost.com.
  6. Greene, Kate (2008-08-19). "Where Cell Phones Go to Die | MIT Technology Review". Technologyreview.com. Retrieved 2014-01-15.
  7. "The Recyclers - Green 50 - Sustainable businesses". Inc.com. 2006-11-01. Retrieved 2014-01-15.
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