Question: How many electronic devices do you have around the house that you don’t use anymore?

Don’t worry, I’ll wait.

Yes, probably more then you can count. Or remember. What do you plan to do with them? Keep it in “that” drawer? Put them in the basement? Good for you, at least it’s not going in the trash, where nearly 3 million tons of gadgets ended up in 2003, the most recent year the EPA has statistics for.

You may have considered getting it recycled, as even mainstream players like Office Depot offer in store tech recycling. But you’ve got to pay for it. This alone will likely be a barrier for many to make that step. And then there’s the possibility that E-cycling may be little more then just shipping the garbage to another country, where people get exposed to highly concentrated dose of toxins.

What to do, then? What if there’s the niggling feeling it’s worth something?



How about giving your gear a second rotation. Come again? Second Rotation, out of Waltham, Massachusetts will buy your gear, from cell phones to GPS devices to gaming consoles and on. It’s clear they’re not just skimming for the cream of the crop. Have you ever heard of Bird cell phones? Yes that’s a brand, not an avian communication device.

All you do is answer some questions about the condition, then they instantly give you a quote. If you agree, they give you a form to mail the item, free. You don’t even have to leave the house. Then, a short in person inspection, and you get money. Done. Don’t agree with their inspection? Get it back, free.

What happens then?

Through an astounding array of data aggregators and online channels, these devices get sold back out there, to those who would appreciate and gladly possess what you no longer wish to.

And what of the ones that don’t get sold?

Excellent question. As of press time, I couldn’t find an answer to that. I invite you to contact them and find that out. Overall, it sounds as though they’ve successfully created an engaging, simple, efficient way for electronics to forgo the trip to the dump, and continue to have utility throughout their lifespan.

There are a number of other niche players in this market. See below for more.

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For more statistics on E-waste, go here and here .

For more on where to sell your e-goodies, go here.