Kyocera Bows National Takeback Program To Recycle Unused Mobile Phones

Kyocera launched a national mobile phone takeback program for consumers wanting to dispose of unused cellphones of any brand, the company said Wednesday. Kyocera said it’s working with SecondWave Recycling, which promotes free phone recycling to support charities. For every four phones recycled for their raw materials, Kyocera will donate $1 to Cell Phones For Soldiers, a nonprofit that provides free communication services to active-duty military members and veterans, Kyocera said. Nearly 2 billion mobile phones are sold globally each year, but only 13 percent of unused phones are recycled in the U.S., with the remaining 87 percent going to landfills or incinerators, Kyocera said. In the take-back program, donors can print free shipping labels at Kyocera’s sustainability website and Kyocera will provide shipping containers for phones at no charge to those who need them, the company said. SecondWave will receive the phones and break them down for their recyclable raw materials, it said.