Do your research BEFORE you recycle

Do your research BEFORE you recycle your cell phone. All recycling companies are NOT made equal. Get a personal reference or find out who else they do business with. http://ht.ly/2TOjm

The ECO-STUDENT

Now that another school year has begun, ECO-CELL has provided some helpful ECO-TIPS for parents and students (of any age) to help cut back on waste and save money.  It’s important to remember that the back-to-school shopping spree comes with huge environmental costs.   There are over 14 million students currently enrolled in the United States, making them (and their parents) a prime target of today’s conspicuous consumption driven marketplace. We seldom think about these costs and how our spending choices impact the world around us.

Gearing Up

Before rushing out to an overpriced bookstore, check with friends/senior classmates for anyone who may be able to loan you a copy of the textbook(s).  If you must buy books this year, first check to see if there is an online copy.  Many textbooks can be found in an online format, thus cutting out waste all together.  If you can’t find an online version, make sure you buy used books.  Reusing books saves you money and keeps waste out of our landfills. Instead of going to the large chain stores for school supplies, shop locally.  Shopping locally is a great way to keep money in your community and it cuts down on the fossil fuel energy used in the transport of goods. Buy recycled loose paper and a binder rather than several notebooks.  You can use the binder year after year and recycle the paper when you have used it all.  Taking notes on your laptop eliminates the need for paper altogether.  Always bring a reusable cloth shopping bag to eliminate some of the 50+ billion plastic bags that end up in landfills every year.

The Clothes Horse

Before buying new clothes, go through what you have and separate anything you can keep.  If you must buy new clothes, try your local vintage or thrift store.  Not only is vintage fashionable, but thrift or vintage stores are usually much cheaper than the malls.  Also, by making use of something old you are eliminating waste and cutting down on the fossil fuel costs associated with new clothes.  A fun way to go green is throwing a clothes swap party.  Get together with friends and trade clothes; this way you all get something new and keep waste out of landfills.  Clothes that can no longer be used should be donated or repurposed.  For instance, 500 pieces of denim can insulate an entire house, and repurposing 1300 pieces of denim keeps one metric ton of waste out of our landfills!  There are two companies that manufacture insulation from recycled denim and cotton fibers, Green Jeans Insulation and Bonded Logic. The product, called UltraTouch Natural Cotton Fiber, is made from 85% recycled material, making it a green choice for home insulation.

Campus Life

When you head off to school, be sure to bring a reusable water bottle and coffee mug.  Tap water creates less pollution, uses less energy and natural resources than disposable plastic water bottles. 30 million plastic water bottles end up in landfills every day, so do your part by carrying a reusable bottle.  Walk, bike or take the bus whenever possible.  Walking or biking are great ways to stay in shape, and riding the bus is a great way to meet other students.  If you must drive, try to carpool whenever possible.

Electronics are a huge part of any student’s life; make sure to unplug any devices when not in use.  Laptops and televisions should be set to “sleep” or “standby” mode when not in use.  When the time comes to replace and old cell phone or other electronic device, make sure to properly recycle it.  Companies like ECO-CELL actually pay you to recycle your cell phone, a win-win for your wallet and the environment. Visit www.ECO-CELL.com to get cell phone recycling started on campus; it’s a great way to raise money for a RSO, an outside cause, or for campus sustainability efforts.

Find out if your school has a sustainability office, environmental club, or an environmental RSO.  This is a great way to learn about all the green happenings around campus and meet new people.

ECO-CELL is committed to fostering a culture of sustainability and believes this begins with making a few simple changes to our daily routines.  By following a few of these tips, you’re on the way to bringing about real change to our environment.  Please visit www.ECO-CELL.com to learn about other ways you can make the world a better place.

ECO-TIPS for A Greener Winter

As we move closer to the winter season, it’s important to make a few minor adjustments at the homestead to cut down on those insane energy bills.  If you’re like me, you put out your orange recycling box every week and try to walk rather than drive, but you still want to do more.  Unfortunately you have little time and even less money.  As it turns out, there are some simple and better still, cheap things you can do to live a greener lifestyle.

ECO-CELL decided to make your life a little easier and came up with a few simple and efficient ways to lower your energy costs this winter.  As an added benefit, being more energy conscious and efficient lowers your carbon footprint, helps to reduce harmful pollutants in the atmosphere and best of all; saves you money!!  Many people think they have to change their entire lifestyle to go green, but if you follow some of the simple ECO-TIPS below, you will save money and the planet.

A Trip down the Aisle

Next time you’re at the store, take a closer look at those strange looking light bulbs (known as compact florescent bulbs). Compact florescent bulbs are under $4 and will save you $30 dollars over their lifetime as compared to a traditional bulb.  Also, compact florescent bulbs use roughly 75% less energy, which translates to a lower electric bill.  Another cheap way to go green is by purchasing a dimmer/timer switch for your lights.  These typically run about $7 – $10 and make it very easy to cut down on your electric bill by dimming the lights or setting the timer to keep them off when you are out.

Add another Layer

Adding attic insulation is one of the easiest and most effective home energy saving tips that will drastically improve the efficiency and value of your home.  We all know heat rises, but did you know that most homes built before 1990 are poorly insulated?  This means you are losing most of your heat through the attic/roof.  You can easily add attic insulation to prevent this and may even qualify for a tax credit!  Heat also escapes through doors and windows, so it’s important to check for anyplace cool air seeps through.  Once you find the culprit, it’s important and easy to caulk and seal off the leak with proper weather stripping.  While you’re in the mood, go ahead and check the duct work and seal it where necessary. Also, all pipes should be wrapped in quick and easy to install insulation that fits right over the pipe.

Cool It Down

When laundry day arrives wash your clothes in cold water; this saves energy and preserves the life of your clothes.  By using the cold cycle you save energy, which cuts down on harmful greenhouse gases while keeping money in your pocket by lowering the dreaded energy bill and your wardrobe budget. Since you’re smart and added insulation, you can lower the thermostat a few degrees and stay warm without adding layers of clothes.

Turn That Thing Off

The easiest and most cost effective way to save on those outrageous energy bills is to unplug every appliance when not in use.  Things like televisions and computers can be set to the “sleep” or “stand by” mode, but that cell phone or iPod charger has got to go. Only 5% of the power drawn by a cell phone charger is used to charge the phone. The other 95% is wasted when it is left plugged into the wall.  Speaking of cell phones, did you know they can be recycled?  Recycling your cell phone, or other electronics, cuts down on toxic ewaste and helps conserve critical wildlife habitat.  Visit ECO-CELL.com for more information.

Keep on Recycling

And of course, continue to recycle.  Not only can paper, aluminum and plastic be recycled but so can e-waste. Recycling not only allows us to cut our production of new materials but it also keeps unnecessary waste and toxins out of landfills and helps conserve critical wildlife habitat. Visit ECO-CELL.com for more information.

It’s Good to Be Green

Saving money is a great reason to go green, but everyday energy use decisions impact our world with serious consequences.  To emphasize why you should implement these cheap and easy ways to go green; find out where your energy comes from.  It takes less than five minutes and drives home just how important a green lifestyle really is.  Simply go to: www.ilovemountains.org and select the “your connection” tab on the menu.  Once you enter your zip code, this site will tell you exactly where your energy comes from and how these ECO-TIPS can not only save you money, but the Earth in the process.

By making these cheap and simple changes to your routine you can make a huge impact towards saving our planet!!  Please visit ECO-CELL.com for more information on cell phone recycling, fund-raising, and conservation.

ECO-friendly Phones: Choice May No Longer Be A “Prototype”

Many educated consumers are already aware of the recycling options they have when their mobile device has reached the end of its life or become outdated, however, an emerging technology may allow these savvy consumers another alternative.  According to a leading eco-technology website, a “green phone” may come online sooner than previously anticipated.  A few green phones are beginning to hit retailers, while others are in the last phases of design and set for release in the next year.  For instance, the well-known manufacturer Samsung has just unveiled the Reclaim, which the company claims is made from 80% recycled material.  In addition to  eliminating new plastic and toxins associated with the mining of raw materials, the Reclaim alerts users when to unplug the device to save energy.  Eco-friendly consumers in addition to the thrifty buyer will be satisfied at the Reclaims cost of only $50. Also, hitting the market is the Sony Erickson Greenheart line of phones that promise consumers an eco-friendly design with cutting edge features.  The Greenheart line also comes complete with “green apps” that encourage buyers to make greener choices.  Not to be left out, Motorola also has a new green line of phones debuting this year, but it should be noted that the “green” designation comes mostly from carbon offsets, as opposed to actual eco-friendly innovations in the manufacturing process.  The aforementioned information should derive great satisfaction from the green-minded consumer, but it is important to continue researching new technology before you buy.  Also, when purchasing or upgrading to a new mobile device, make sure to recycle or repurpose your old device through a reputable company such as ECO-CELL.COM.

Cell Phone Recycling and green living

Household recycling has become as commonplace in our society as taking out the trash, but how much thought have you ever given to that old cell phone sitting in a drawer or thrown in the waste bin?  Electronic waste, or “ewaste”, is becoming more and more prevalent in our landfills.

Not only does this ewaste contribute to our already over burdened landfills, but the materials are toxic and seep into our groundwater, becoming a hazardous point source of contamination and pollution.

Also, the minerals used in our most common electronics are usually mined in impoverished areas of the world, thus displacing indigenous peoples and animals that are often already on the verge of extinction (i.e. the Mountain Gorilla).  Secondly, the mining of the most common minerals used in cell phones, known as the three T’s (Tin, Tantalum and Tungsten), are often done using the most rudimentary of mining practices, causing large-scale environmental damage.

Cell phone and computer providers, in addition to technology culture and advertising, encourage us to rush out and get the latest product on the market without a thought as to the proper disposal or repurposing of our old electronics.  In fact, many of the components/materials contained in said electronics can be “ecycled” and used in place of mining and manufacturing new raw materials.

So what can be done to become a more educated consumer and help solve the ewaste problem?

Selling your old/used cell phone to a recycling/re-purposing company

Selling your old or used cell phone/s to a company such as ECO-CELL is an easy and convenient way to keep harmful toxins out of our landfills.  Also, ECO-CELL and similar companies allow you to make a profit by paying you to recycle your cell phone, thus providing an economic incentive to recycle!  Getting started is as simple as visiting www.ECO-CELL.com and selecting the recycle your phone tab.  From there you simply follow the prompts and make some quick cash!  You can donate by yourself, or get friends, coworkers, or companies involved to make a larger impact (and profit).  By doing something as simple as recycling your cell phone through ECO-CELL, you are helping to eliminate toxic waste from landfills, protecting wildlife habitat and getting paid for it!

Donate phones to your favorite charity

Another way to help eliminate ewaste is by donating your old cell phone to a charitable organization.  Many charitable organizations use cell phone recycling as a way to raise funds for their work around the world.  ECO-CELL makes it easy to donate your phone by selecting the help a charity or raise money tab at www.ECO-CELL.com.  ECO-CELL is partnered with zoos across the country and many other charitable organizations that use the profits generated from your cell phone donation to fund worthwhile projects.  If you have a favorite charity that is not listed on our site; it’s no problem.  ECO-CELL allows you to donate your phone to any charity of your choosing.  You can even start your own project and network with other non-profits via ECO-CELL’s website!  By helping to raise funds via your old cell phone, you are providing material support to charitable organizations and causes with something that would have ended up becoming a point source of toxic contamination in a landfill.

Give your old phone to a friend or family member

Perhaps the easiest way to help stop the flow of ewaste into our already over burdened landfills, is by giving it to someone you know.  The majority of the cell phones that end up in the trash are not broken, but rather are older models that have been replaced for aesthetic reasons, or no longer work after a switch to a new service provider.  The easiest way to extend the life of these phones and to keep them from polluting the environment is to give them to a friend or family member.  However, this method is a temporary fix; be sure to tell the person receiving the phone how to properly recycle it when the time comes.

Importance of cell phone recycling

As we discussed earlier it is imperative you recycle your cell phone to prevent toxic ewaste from contaminating our environment.  Also, by recycling your phone you ease/prevent the need for manufacturers to mine raw materials.  The mining process itself displaces indigenous peoples and destroys critical wildlife habitat.  We have a long way to go in eliminating ewaste all together, but by following some of the tips discussed above, you can help to make the world a better place!

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