Dive Brief:

• ecoATM, automated receptacles that accept used electronics in exchange for cash, is expanding in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. 16 kiosks will be added to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, to reach a total of 32 kiosks in malls and Walmart retail locations.
• The company collects phones, tablets and MP3 players which can be deposited into a bin. Consumers are paid for the e-waste in cash, and can choose to donate the a sum to a charity or spend the payment at the store in which the kiosk is located.
• The machines are capable of detecting over 4,000 different types of electronics. A mechanical device rotates the electronics around in order to check for damage, assess demand for the item, then determine a price for it. The machines then gives an offer to the owner, who can accept or reject it.

Dive Insight:

ecoATM has placed 900 kiosks throughout the US, and can be found in 42 states. The company has collected over 190,000 phones throughout the US, and consumers have received more than $3.6 million for used electronics so far.