Turn your old cell phones and PDAs into TerraPass cash

We’re excited to announce a partnership with RIPMobile that’s good for your pocketbook and great for the environment.

RIPMobile recycles used cell phones and PDAs. They also happen to be leaders in their industry for environmental best practices. Unlike many recyclers, RIPMobile will accept any used cell phone, regardless of economic value. They’ll even pay your postage. RIPMobile handles all materials according to EPA standards and in compliance with the stringent requirements of the Basel Action Network.

Best of all, RIPMobile wants to pay you for your old electronics. There’s gold in them thar gadgets (literally), and through our partnership, you can redeem your old cell phones and PDAs for TerraPass gift certificates that can be applied to any of our products.The environmental benefits of this arrangement are manifold:

• Recycling reduces waste. There are about 200 million mobile phone users in the US, and they replace their cell phones every 18 months. This adds up to about 130 million surplus cell phones per year, weighing about 65,000 tons. The cumulative total of retired mobile phones in the US is about 600 million and growing.
• If not recycled, these cell phones will end up in landfills, where they may leach toxic materials such as mercury and lead.
• Cell phones contain precious metals such as gold. Reclaiming these metals reduces pressure for environmentally destructive mining.
• By trading your old cell phones in for a TerraPass, you’re turning trash into clean energy.

The value of your old electronics depends on the model and condition of your phone. My old Motorola is only worth $2, but a RAZR V3 in working condition will fetch you $75. Check out our partnership page for more details.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t also mention that RIPMobile is a carbon neutral company, the only one in their industry. By buying enough wind credits to offset all of their electricity usage, they’ve propelled themselves to the leadership level of the EPA’s Green Power Leadership Club.

For more on RIPMobile and RIPMobile’s parent company, CollectiveGood, check out this Grist interview with CEO Seth Heine.