EcoATM’s

EcoATM is a product that recycles electronics. In its current form, the EcoATM only recycles cell phones and can only be found in one store. That lucky store is the Nebraska Furniture Mart in Omaha, Nebraska. The San Diego startup company, EcoATM, has big plans for this system.

While there is only one kiosk today, the company plans on rolling out more in the next quarter - the Nebraska kiosk acting as the test case for the product. Additionally, the company plans to accept MP3 players, digital cameras, notebooks, printers, and storage devices at some point in the future.

What is amazing about this technology is that it uses cameras within the ATM to inspect the old electronics. It determines things such as scuff marks and cracked screens to determine the trade-in value of the item. You are then offered the choice of in-store trade up coupon or gift card. If the machine determines your old electronic device is not worth anything, you will be offered the choice of recycling the item.

If this product is successful, it will revolutionize what we do with our old electronics. Instead of keeping them locked up in a closet to only wind up in a landfill, we will recycle them. How that will impact the environment has yet to be seen, but if this gets done right it has the potential to have a significant impact. It will ultimately rest with what EcoATM does with the items: truly reycle or e-waste dumps.