The world’s e-waste (electronic waste) problem is rapidly getting out of control, as the equivalent of almost 4,500 Eiffel towers was generated in 2016 alone from discarded phones, laptops, refrigerators, TVs, and so on. That’s 44.7 million metric tonnes of potentially hazardous rubbish which could have very easily been recycled.
As Amazon points out on a new website dedicated to an environmentally friendly initiative called Second Chance, “almost 100% of e-waste is recyclable.” To help you do the right thing and stop this totally manageable plague, the e-commerce giant is launching a “one-stop shop” where you can learn how to minimize the impact of your gadget use on the environment through “reuse, refurbishing, and recycling.”
Amazon Second Chance includes full instructions for sensible recycling of both devices you no longer use and various types of packaging you might be inclined to throw away without proper planning.
Additionally, the new website prominently features a link to the Amazon trade-in program, where you can get gift cards in exchange for your old gear, as well as free shipping for the items you’re looking to get rid of, and extra discounts when you choose to upgrade the company’s own devices.
Of course, you should keep your expectations low as far as the value of your trade-ins is concerned, with a mint-condition iPhone 8, for instance, merely appraised at $255, while Amazon’s first-gen Echo Show will net you a modest $30 shopping coupon.
Finally, you can get to Amazon’s pre-owned and refurbished product deals from the Second Chance portal, as well as get “live expert help” free for 90 days after purchasing anything to make sure all your efforts are focused on trying to fix faulty devices and not discard them as soon as they start acting up.
Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.
Recommended Stories
Loading Comments...
COMMENT
All comments need to comply with our
Community Guidelines
Phonearena comments rules
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed: