14 DAY TRIAL // This year, recycling operations go hand in hand with charity. This green strategy is adopted both by Sprint and Verizon, two companies determined to help the less fortunate ones while diverting millions of old cell phones from landfills.
Sprint and Verizon have developed two trade-in programs to support their goals, Earth911 informs.
They encourage clients to let go of their no-longer-needed mobiles. Both major brands plan to recycle the products that are no longer functioning.
Sprint is eager to offer any amount of money ranging from $50 (€38.4) to $275 (€211.3), depending on the model and the current condition of the phone.
This amount can be used by owners to buy a new product, just in time for the winter holidays. If the phone can't be repaired, the company said it would use some of its parts to fix other phones.
Sprint officials stated the trade-in program would manage to collect 26 million mobiles and keep them far away from landfills. The financial benefits obtained through this project will back a series of Internet safety programs for kids.
Appropriate funds are expected to boost the influence of Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the National Education Association Health Information Network and Family Online Safety Institute and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
At the same time, Verizon has launched a new online trade-in program. The company gathers no-longer-wanted tablets and cell phones. Owners who will mail their products will receive a gift card for a new purchase.
Moreover, it seems that philanthropic actions are on the company's agenda, since it also encourages generous donations.
Verizon wants people to donate their old phones to the victims of domestic violence, helping them overcome the current challenges and aim for a better life.
So far, Verizon has done a good job keeping landfills clean. During its trade-in program developed last year, the company has managed to recycle almost 500,000 old tablets and mobiles and take care of 70 tons of e-waste.