Cell phone recycling is not only eco-friendly, but it can also help you earn a considerable amount of money. You can start such a recycling business all by yourself following some important steps. Find detailed information about cell phone or electronic recycling business in this article and help your environment.
Cell phones have simplified people’s lives to a great extent. You can do a number of things with this small device which doesn’t even require much space. You can stay connected to the world and can perform a number of important tasks just by clicking a button. But, have you ever thought how dangerous this device can be if it is just thrown or dumped in the ground or water? Yes, cell phones are very dangerous to the environment and the only way to get rid of this problem is, cell phone recycling. It is a way out of the disastrous effects of toxins found in cell phones. The most interesting part is that it can be taken up as a business too, through which you can earn a reasonable amount.
What is Cell Phone Recycling?
Like any other material, say plastic bottles, metal articles, waste papers, etc., cell phones can also be recycled. They have plastic, metal and many other elements which can be used to make other products. This saves Nature from the toxic effects of cell phones and also helps in recovering various metals like gold, silver, palladium, copper, etc. Electronic recycling helps to make them useful in one or the other form. It is no doubt an environment-friendly process and waste management companies associated with it are in some way saving the environment. But, you can recycle cell phone for money also. It is emerging as a new business which can be profitable and beneficial too.
Why Cell Phone Recycling Business is a Good Idea?
You may be thinking why to opt for an electronic recycling business, when you have numerous options to earn a considerable amount of money. But, the following points will help you to understand the positive points of starting this business and bright chances to earn profit.
- Cell phone supply is in abundance. On an average, people change their cell phones every 12 to 18 months. Over 100 million mobile phones are discarded every year out of which only 30% of them are sent for recycling. Hence, you can get a huge amount of cell phones every year for recycling.
- Cell phone requires very less space as compared to other waste like water paper, plastic bottles, etc. At the same time, it has more value. For example, the value of 5 kg of cell phones will have a higher value than 5 kg of papers.
- You can easily get the pricing list of every recycling company through the Internet and can accordingly make the deal. Just decide the company and send the batch of cell phones and wait for the money to come.
- There is no shipping charges in case of recycling materials. Yes, you just have to take a print of their shipping label and your material will be picked up by the shipper. This saves your time as well as money.
- You can either collect the cell phone by going from house to house or create awareness and go to a social gathering to collect the cell phones.
- You can explain about the dangerous consequences of mobile phones and can encourage people to donate their phones and help the environment.
How to Start a Cell Phone Recycling Business?
Well, I hope by now you must have made up your mind to start this business. You can work for a profit by choosing it as a business or can also take this job as a fundraiser or as non profit organization. Following are step-by-step tips on how to start this business in order to earn maximum profit.
☞ Collect Information About the Cell Phones
The first rule of the business is to know every single thing about the business you are getting into. So in this business, you need to have a great and wide knowledge of the cell phones available in the market. I know this is a tough job as there are lots of companies and all the companies have numerous types of cell phones, but you should at least have an idea of the common ones. As the companies have a price list according to the quality and time period of mobile phones, you should have a proper track on at least the top models of all the companies.
☞ Means of Transport and Collection
Means of transportation like car and trucks help a lot in mobile collection. If you do not have them, then you need to rent or borrow. You can also collect mobiles from nearby places by going door to door if you live in a crowded area. You can also have drop boxes made out of cardboard boxes which you can place outside your house or somewhere where you can ask people to deposit their cell phones. This will help you in collection.
☞ Contact the Cell Phone Recycling Companies
You can easily get phone numbers and details about the electronic recycling companies on the Internet. Go through their websites and check out the price lists for various mobiles. Tell them about your business and ask their support in terms of collection boxes, posters, etc. Refer to different companies so as to get a better idea of the price list and go for the company which is ready to give you the best deal. Pace Butler Corporation is one such company, which has a good reputation in the cell phone recycling business and pays well to the cell phone providers or dealers.
☞ Locate your Collection Points
You need to figure out the collection points. Look around for the places where you can place your collection boxes. You can talk to the mobile retailers who are into selling business and not in the buy back of old or second hand mobile. Try to develop more contacts with the retailers and spread your collection area. In the beginning you may find only few places, but later as your network expands, you will have more collection points.
☞ Register your Business Company
You may be looking for a part-time job or a small scale business but whatever you are doing, you need to show your presence. For this, the best thing is to get yourself registered to a local business office. You will get a label of L.L.C (Limited Liability Company) after your company’s name. This will make other companies aware of your presence which in turn will develop a goodwill among the other business companies and will also save you from any kind of frauds. You may require a local permit or license for recycling business in your city. So get all the necessary formalities done before starting the business.
☞ Publicize your Company
You have got a company and you are all set to work, but people have never heard about your company. Will it work? No, you need to publicize about your company in order to gain reputation in the market. You can use posters, banners, flyers, business cards, etc. to tell people about your company. The cheapest way of publicizing is through the Internet. Try out social networking sites and blogs to make people aware about your company.
☞ Keep a Track on Your Expenses and Cash Flow
To start any business you need to first invest some amount of money. There are some state and federal government grants, which are available for the people who want to start a recycling business; so, you can find the details and can apply for it. As you are doing business for money, it is the most important thing to be taken care of. So, keep a track on the expenses which will be done in the publicity, transportation, etc. Note down every small expense also. Now, let’s come to the cash flow. You have to calculate every single penny of the cash flow as it will help you to understand whether you have been profited or not. Make a complete and proper agreement with the company with whom you are going to start the business and do all the legal formalities before you hand over the phones for recycling.
So, these were some of the tips on starting a cell phone recycling business. Though you will be doing this business to earn money, it will also help the environment to get rid of the toxic effects of cell phones. But the foremost thing to do is to create awareness among the people as there is a huge mass which do not even know that their cell phones can be dangerous to the environment and can be recycled.