Recycle Your Cell Phone and Join in Political Campaigning

E-waste recycler ReCellular set up a platform inviting consumers and nonprofit organizations to recycle their cell phones and use the proceeds for finance political campaigns.

As the United States is facing midterm elections in the first week of November, ReCelluar launched SecureTradeIn.com, calling for personal electronics, particularly mobile phones, to be reused and recycled.

The platform comes after Federal Elections Commission (FEC) approved last week a proposal to allow political groups to use the proceeds from their recycling for political expenses. The proceeds could be anywhere from $5 - $400, depending on the type of cell phone recycled, stated e-waste company in a press release.

Michigan League of Conservation Voters, publisher of Michigan Environmental Scorecard, is among the first groups to sign up for the program. "It's a fabulous way for us to make sure that cell phones are recycled," said Lisa Wozniak, executive director of the Michigan LCV, in a statement. "It also helps us do good work and fulfill our mission while allowing consumers to support their cause or campaign without having to cut into their budgets."

Registered federal candidates, regardless of party, nonprofit lobbying organizations, and all non-connected political committees can participate in recycling. Campaigns only need to pay a one-time $10 listing fee to register as required by the FEC.

Under the system, individuals can trade in their phones, receive a check and send it to the campaign they choose. "Funding is critical for campaigns, and this capability provides a twofold benefit of fundraising while recycling," said Steve Manning, CEO of ReCellular (News - Alert).

ReCellular, which employs 280 in Michigan, collects more than 400,000 mobile phones a month. Approximately 70 percent of those phones are refurbished and resold. The rest are recycled for the precious metals, electronics and plastics that make up a phone.

In 2009, ReCellular said it collected and processed five million phones for reuse and recycling, keeping more than 1.6 million pounds of solid and potentially harmful waste out of landfills.