Post Office kicks off free, by-mail gadget recycling

Tue Mar 18, 2008 3:27PM EDT

See Comments (81)

Got an old camera, cell phone, or MP3 player that you want to toss? Under a new pilot program offered by the U.S. Postal Service, recycling your dead gadgets is as easy as dropping them in the mail.

Computerworld reports that the Post Office's new "Mail Back" program is getting a trial run in 10 U.S. markets, including Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Washington, D.C. If the pilot program takes off, a nationwide rollout will follow.

So here's the deal: Just bring your old gadgets (handhelds, cell phones, MP3 players, and even inkjet cartridges - no 20" CRTs or dead dot-matrix printers, unfortunately) to one of 1,500 participating post offices, seal them in preprinted, postage-paid envelopes (you can take as many envelopes as you want), and drop them in the mail.

The package goes to Clover Technologies Group, which is partnering with the Post Office in the new recycling program. In a press release, the Post Office promises that Clover will refurbish, resell, or break down the discarded gadgets for recycling, and that nothing will end up in a landfill.

It's a clever idea for those of us with old electronics too outdated to sell on eBay. Indeed, I have an old, 2001-era iPod that's essentially worthless (I priced it over at SecondRotation and got an estimate of exactly $0), and I'd rather drop it in the mail than pay to have it recycled.

Related:
Recycle electronics free by mail [Computerworld]

Comments on Post Office kicks off free, by-mail gadget recycling

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  • 48 Posted by miracleshp on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:21PM EDT Report Abuse

    YEA!! YIPPEE! THANK YOU!! YEEEHAAA!! RECYCLING IS THE ANSWER!!!

  • 49 Posted by danielgalster on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:35PM EDT Report Abuse

    I'm not just going to put this in the mail...I'm going to try to donate the old technology to the Salvation Army or Goodwill and try to get a tax write off....... .....why should I send in my old cell phones to this, when I could drop it off at a non-profit organization and get some money back in the long run......

  • 50 Posted by nutsandstuffbakery on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:42PM EDT Report Abuse

    I like your concept, but I don't appreciate the fact that comments are not viewed, such as the ones from SEX oriented web sights.If this is a consumer web sight then keep the TRASH OUT OF IT. You will lose donations even before they begin, especially if children or schools get involved and try to use this as a drive program. Your cutting your own throats. KEEP THE TRASH OUT OF THE HANDS OF THOSE WHO DON'T WANT TO SEE IT.

  • 51 Posted by ailitraveling on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    thant is a great idea to do because it is helping the enviroment and it is a great thing to recycle

  • 52 Posted by tomark1140 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    geat idea--to save the earth--we all must have items here and there ---with absolutely no use to self== hope florida is included in the program==

  • 53 Posted by ward1383 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:40PM EDT Report Abuse

    You can take your ipod to any Apple retail store and get recycle it and get 10% off a new ipod :)

  • 54 Posted by len_vt on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am from Phils... I have this 45" JVC television.. the only problem of this are the picture tube... though its been 10 yrs that I bought this the service shop told me that they don't have the picture tube to replace for my TV and they even place order from Japan they still cant find the picture tube that i will be needing... so I decided to not bother anymore looking for the parts i need , but it seems nobody here are buying junk like this big ... I also have this magic chef oven with microwave built-in... my previous helper accidentally plug it in without knowing that its 110 watts... I ask someone to repair it but its not that very successful, or maybe there is not much who can work with the magic chef brand... anyway, my main concern is, if by chance you knew anyone from my country who accepts to get this coz its occupying much space from my place which I dont need it anymore or if you have any suggestion regarding my concern please do so... Thank you for your time... Good Luck and Have a nice Day!!!

  • 55 Posted by tomark1140 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    when the post offices are selected--please post the p o by county or town

  • 56 Posted by kaiisback1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    Theres a saying: People want rain in Southern California and Ice water in heck ..That being said, it would be a COLD DAY IN heck before I hand anybody anything for free...

  • 57 Posted by jmsantos474 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:37PM EDT Report Abuse

    If you are in the Sacramento, CA area try this websites: http://www.ynotrecycle.com/default.asp and http://www.greencitizen.com/

  • 59 Posted by diriz42 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    How about a recycling fee for electronics. Most people couldn't be bothered with recycling. I hope this By-Mail Gadget recycling program works.

  • 60 Posted by benhampton1977 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:05PM EDT Report Abuse

    If you take a lot of phone books to a recycling station, you get money back. If you take a lot of aluminum cans to a recycling station, once again money back. ipod's, cell phones etc. cost WAY more than a free phone book or a case of cola's. Why should I give away something that cost me a lot of money and get nothing back? Sounds like a scam to me.

  • 61 Posted by laxlvr26 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    I realize that this article does not give all the information that most of us would like to make an informed decision about whether or not this is a truly ethical company (ie not sending unused parts over to China to just sit in a pile forever) however, to those of you who say that recycling will not give you anything in return please do your research before posting anything. If we do not start recycling now, when? When it is too late becuase there is more garbage piled up in landfills than we can do anything with. Problems are easier to prevent than fix. Obviously this company will be making a profit, after all, every company in existence generates some sort of profit. If this company had not proposed the idea someone else would have (or at least a similar idea). And to those of you who complain about taking time out of your day and wasting gas, a short trip to the post office while you are out doing errands to pick up a couple of envelopes is not going to hurt you. After all if this really takes off you could just put the envelope in your mailbox for the mailman to pick up (they do provide that service to you). And maybe do some research on gas before you rant about the price. Yes it does seem high but when you compare the price of gas to average income it was much higher in the 1980's than it is now.

  • 62 Posted by stacyrupert on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:39PM EDT Report Abuse

    Agreed that it would be nice to know which post offices were doing this program. I think it's great and hope it works out well. You can also go to http://www.rbrc.org for many retail locations in which you can drop off your old cell phones, batteries, etc nationwide.

  • 63 Posted by s.cleland@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    Recycle your unwanted cell phones by checking out cellphonesforsoldiers.com. It's free and the money they get for recycling goes to buy phone cards for troops in Iraq.

  • 64 Posted by nyphonejacks on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:42PM EDT Report Abuse

    1- that second rotation website that is linked in the article appears to be a rip off.. just for kicks I priced what they would pay for a PS3 60GB with everything included and mint condition.. $208, I am sure ebay, or amazon could provide much better return if you are trying to profit off of your old stuff... but i am getting tired of these enviorn-MENTAL-ists... i understand the need to recycle, but is that not the point of having to separate my trash into 3 separate cans, why should i have to take my trash any where further then the curb? sanitation is supposed to recycle the trash that i separated so nicely for them... why should it now become my business to transport my garbage... also, does no one else see the scam of things here, this is a business, they are making money reselling your garbage, they just dont have the shopping cart, and all the garbage bags full of soda cans like the old chinese lady...

  • 65 Posted by dorabittso on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    I found a very convenient way to rid myself of all those useless gadgets, I throw them in the garbage.

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