| While transporter rooms have yet to become a | | | | recycled. In some areas of the country, used cell |
| part of our daily mode of transportation, there is | | | | phone recycling efforts are not as prevalent or as |
| one item from "Star Trek" tech that has become | | | | well known as cardboard and aluminum can |
| a popular consumer electronics staple. The | | | | reclamation. Performing your due diligence and |
| portable "hand held communicator" that was used | | | | setting up cell phone collection stations within |
| by the crew of the Starship Enterprise, has made | | | | heavily trafficked locations within your state or |
| its way to our planet in the form of a cell phone. | | | | local community is one way to make the general |
| Weaving the technology into the fabric of our | | | | public aware of your recycling efforts. There are |
| society took some time. The first handheld cell | | | | several trade groups can provide you with |
| phone commercially available to the US market | | | | market research, as well as support material to |
| was the Motorola DynaTAC, way back in 1983. | | | | help you set up collection stations. |
| The cost to own a DynaTAC was around four | | | | One such organization is The International |
| thousand dollars. The calling plan was a whopping | | | | Association For Wireless Communication, (Ctia.org). |
| one dollar per minute. This made the cell phone | | | | Ctia.org provides position papers and articles |
| cost prohibitive to most of the general public. Only | | | | pertaining to how used cell phones are collected |
| those with financial means could afford to own it. | | | | for recycling. Use the search feature on their |
| It took more than a decade, but like most things | | | | homepage and type in the keyword phrase |
| in the technological arena, phone prices finally | | | | "recycle". RecyclewirelessPhones.org is another |
| dropped and the cell phone emerged. It was | | | | organization dedicated to helping individuals and |
| smaller and more portable then it's first cousin the | | | | businesses start a cell phone recycling business. |
| DynaTAC. | | | | After you have done your research and set up a |
| Cell towers started to sprang up all over the | | | | number of used cell phone drop off stations, the |
| country, and calling plan prices when from dollars | | | | next step is to find a profitable sales outlet for |
| to cents per minute. Communication for the | | | | your merchandise. The good news is that you |
| masses was finally born. Today, it is hard to find | | | | don't have to set up a website or sell your |
| anyone who is not chatting on their cell phone, or | | | | phones on Ebay to make money (unless of |
| has a wireless blue-tooth headpiece attached to | | | | course you want to). With the proliferation of |
| their ear like a "Borg" appendage. Along with this | | | | wireless communication in everyday life and new |
| explosion of communication technology came new | | | | models replacing old ones, some recycling |
| products and support services like cell phone | | | | companies are now specializing in buying new and |
| covers, calling cards, ring-tones, ear pieces, | | | | used cell phones. GRC Recycling |
| camera phones, text messaging and Internet | | | | (Grcrecycling.com) is just one company that pays |
| access. Just about any function you can perform | | | | for new and used cell phones. GRC will pay |
| on your home computer can now be done on a | | | | anywhere from fifty cents to thirty dollars |
| cell phone that weighs less than a pound. While | | | | depending on the make, model, and condition of |
| both cell phones and accessories are entering the | | | | the cell phone you have to offer. |
| consumer market at a rapid pace, new models will | | | | Recellular (Recellular.com), and Ecophones |
| replace old, and today's hot new accessories will | | | | (Ecophones.com), are two additional companies |
| end up in tomorrow's landfill. Cell phones and | | | | that are similar to GRC Recycling. will also pay for |
| accessory devices, including headsets and | | | | used laptops, camcorders, and other electronics |
| batteries, provide new opportunities for a variety | | | | items. In addition to buying your used electronic |
| of green business models to emerge. | | | | merchandise, both Ecophones and GRC Recycling |
| It is estimated that there are over 20 million used | | | | offer advice and counsel for profit and non-profit |
| cell phones in households across America. While | | | | businesses who want to set up used cell phone |
| some cell phone service providers and | | | | collection stations. Free sources of education |
| manufacturers are championing recycling efforts, | | | | about the used cell phone industry can be found |
| a savvy | | | | at Cell For Cash (CellForCash.com). They offer a |
| Entrepreneur might be able to find a niche in the | | | | free downloadable eBook for all consumers and |
| cell phone recycling business. The main key to | | | | businesses interested in collecting and selling used |
| success in the cell phone recycling business | | | | cell phones as a full or part-time business. If you |
| revolves around acquisition. Some people throw | | | | are thinking about getting involved with a business |
| their cell phones in the trash. Most, are just | | | | that has the potential for profits while keeping the |
| forgotten, winding up in cabinets, closets, and | | | | landfills cleaner, and the planet greener, then the |
| designated junk draws of households throughout | | | | used cell phone recycling is the business |
| America. The general public, for the most part, is | | | | opportunity for you. |
| still unaware that their old cell phones can be | | | | |