Eco ATM

After getting up close and personal with an ecoATM electronics recycling center, I’m a fan.
Apparently, ecoATMs are generally located in high foot traffic areas, like shopping malls. The company began in a Starbucks in CA in 2008 and has grown into a booming business. You can check out their website at
and search for ecoATMs by zip code.
This is not just a phone recycling bin where you toss your old phone in or put it in a mailer bag and send it off to a recycling center. It actually gives you cash on the spot for your old devices including phones, MP3 players, and tablets. You get a little cash for your device while actually doing something very good for the planet.
Once you realize how much toxic mining waste is generated to obtain the precious metals (or rare earths, see the lanthanides near the bottom of the periodic table if you share geek tendencies) used to make a new mobile device, you can better appreciate what recycling your old electronics does for the planet.
Don’t think that this is an opportunity for phoneburglers to cash in on their thievery. The machine has several cameras on it and a live attendant will verify recyclers identities by comparing them with their drivers license before forking over any cash.
A 5-​star concept that is good for the environment.