Shiv Ambardar:
Americans discard their older but usable cell phones for sleeker models almost every 18 months. Americans discard their older but usable cell phones for sleeker models almost every 18 months. Phone companies in a bid to retain and grow their customer base keep pushing new models of cell phones to customers, with ever more features. In the process they are contributing to the problem of e-waste, which now runs into millions of tons worldwide, choking landfills.
Several companies are now offering customers money for their old phones, which they re-sell them to the developing world after minimal refurbishing. Such countries frequently lack good landline infrastructure and/or have cellular phones that are too expensive for the masses to afford. According to USAtoday.com such phones are re-sold in Bolivia, Jamaica, Kenya, Ukraine or Yemen.
Some recycled phones that are bought cannot be refurbished and those are broken down for parts. There is anecdotal evidence that these recycled cell phones are helping nascent businesses that were hampered due to lack of communication. These businesses can market their goods and services to remote customers and can get better pricing on their raw materials by getting pricing from a larger group of vendors.
Companies, however have some requirements… read more.
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