Just in time for Halloween, Sims Recycling Solutions, a global electronics reuse and recycling company, today announced the launch of Zombie Phone, an online service that allows individuals to sell their used cell phones directly to Sims. Based in Australia, Sims Recycling Solutions operates 16 North American sites in Arizona, British Columbia, California, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, Ontario, Quebec, Tennessee and Texas.
To begin the buyback process, visitors to the Zombie Phone website select their current wireless carrier and identify the make, model and condition of their phones. Based on this information, an offer is instantly calculated.
If consumers decide to accept the Zombie Phone offer they can ship their devices for free by either requesting a padded envelope (or in Zombie Phone terms, a “body bag”) or printing a prepaid shipping label and shipping the device to Sims Recycling Solutions’ West Chicago, Ill., facility for processing. Upon arrival, all cell phones are automatically checked against the CheckMEND database to determine whether they were reported lost, stolen or being blocked by a wireless carrier. Devices with resale value will undergo secure data erasure and refurbishment. Devices that cannot be repaired will be dismantled, the reusable components recovered and all remaining materials recycled.
“Industry experts estimate that Americans typically hold onto their cell phones for only two years, which is one reason why 141 million mobile devices were ready for recycling, according to the U.S. EPA’s most recent figures,” stated Steve Skurnac, President of Sims Recycling Solutions. “Unfortunately, only 11.7 million of those devices were collected for recycling. We know from experience that concerns about data security and a lack of awareness about available recycling options contribute to this low recycling rate. Zombie Phone gives consumers a convenient way to securely and responsibly recycle their cell phones and make a little extra money while doing it.”
Consumers can choose to receive their payments by means of direct bank transfer or check, or they can donate their money to the Wounded Warrior Project, which provides programs and services to severely injured service members.
In other cell phone recycling news, last month Sprint was recognized by Guinness World Records for the most cell phones recycled in one week: 103,582 cellular phones, more than double the previous record. Sprint says it aims to collect and recycle an average of nine devices for every 10 devices sold by 2017.
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Published Oct 1, 2013 7pm EDT / 4pm PDT / 12am BST / 1am CEST