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It's a clever idea for those of us with old electronics too outdated to sell on eBay.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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  • 6 Posted by pinellas_pirate on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    This is a scam by a recycling company. They make a MINT off of your old stuff. Don't fall for it and if you do happen to send them anything make certain it is broken into a thousand pieces.

  • 7 Posted by theronimal on Wed Mar 26, 2008 8:00PM EDT Report Abuse

    Neat I guess but it seems like small beans to me as far as landfill concerns

  • 8 Posted by aesassy@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    Goodwill Stores do that already. :) You can drop off cell phones, mp3 players, computers, clothing, cars, and much more. At the same time you are helping a good cause! When you donate to Goodwill, you%

  • 10 Posted by michael2001a on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:17PM EDT Report Abuse

    Why should We the People subsidize this corporation? If they are paying all the shipping, okay. Otherwise, NO!

  • 11 Posted by wreck_at_tech on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    "...or break down the discarded gadgets for recycling" As with most "recycling" companies, the products are usually sent oversees for smelting target metal extraction (like gold, silver, copper, etc.) like Sweden, or China for manual part disassembly. I'd be surprised if this Clover Technologies actually can, in-house, recycle each of these components. Another clue is the refusal to accept large items, like CRT's. Besides the cost (and pollution and resource wasted in trasnporting the items to Clover), these items simply cost too much to ship to other countries or across the nation to smaller 3rd party facilities. Yes, I'm skeptical. Electronics recycling is my senior engineering design, and it is near impossible to recycle ever part of a small electronics device, without assuming some waste in the process. Definitely a step in the right direction though!

  • 12 Posted by cmegn on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    so we spend time to package and mail these back so they can refurbish them and sell for a profit? While we get nothing from it? correct me if im wrong. i understand we need to clean up this world but all this seems to be is another way for someone to make money!

  • 14 Posted by fns4evr@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    Thank God for the Post Office--A quasi govt. est. that still helps out the common people like myself. They are basically very honest and altruistic. They are one of us!!

  • 15 Posted by georgealexsill on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:07PM EDT Report Abuse

    Send them to me instead. This way I can make money selling the recycled material.

  • 16 Posted by mjen69 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:22PM EDT Report Abuse

    Good idea but it wnt work for a couple of reasons first off no one is going to take the time out of there day to spend there gas thats already at an unbelivabley high rate to do this when they wont be getting anything in return

  • 17 Posted by tlstober2 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    That is great! does anyone know where I can recycle a PUR water filter? would this company take stuff like that too? Thanks!

  • 18 Posted by dpc_mr on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    Great idea. Hope it works for the regular person and not the rich getting richer.

  • 19 Posted by pepperjackcandy on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:06PM EDT Report Abuse

    I can't find on Clover's site if they farm the recycling out overseas or do it in-house. If they send it to China or something, I'm not going to participate.

  • 20 Posted by newfadvyork on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:36PM EDT Report Abuse

    Why do you want to throw away your old useless ipod? You can get 10% discount credit for the new ipod if you return your old ipod to the store.

  • 21 Posted by shelby_2218 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:18PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am sick of this throwaway society. No wonder we are in such disrepair, with landfills overfilled. We need to get back to accumulating valuable items that can be used indefinately and fixed, not thrown/given/recycled away. And also, don't let the nanotechs get rich off of cannibalizing your dead gadget - otherwise you are perpetuating the problem.

  • 22 Posted by joey21030 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:38PM EDT Report Abuse

    THIS IS STUPID I HOPE IT FAILS..................................

  • 23 Posted by angelcrafter03 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    Besides saving the environment, you could help low income individuals in Oregon get sight and hearing assistance by mailing old cell phones and inkjet cartridges (with a print head only...no Epson or toner cartridges) to the Oregon Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation, 1410 SW Morrison Street, Suite 760, Portland OR 97205. The inkjet cartridges get recycled to use for helping individuals get free health screenings and sight and hearing assistance in Oregon, and the cell phones are sent to a national organization called Mission Cataract USA, which recycles them to provide free cataract surgeries to individuals without funds to pay for this sight restoring surgery.

  • 24 Posted by pm76227 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    What does the person mean getting service for money spent?? You get service for money spent. This is a service the Postal Service did not have to provide that is good for the environment. You pay money for a product, such as gas, postage, groceries. Why would you expect more. Sounds spoiled to me. But, I am trying to figure out what recycling items through the Postal Service for free has to do with getting service for money spent. If you are talking about mailing a letter. You get service. You pay for the postage and the Postal Service delivers it for free. Wowwww!! What a concept. whinerrrrrrr

  • 25 Posted by amrinscheid on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    You can also take your cell phones and ink cartridges to your local Circuit City or Best Buy to have them recycled.

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