e-Cycle congratulates the University of Washington for becoming the first educational institution to attain the status of e-Stewards® Enterprise. This designation recognizes companies, governments and institutions achieving the highest level of environmental stewardship and eliminating the export of hazardous e-Waste to developing countries.

One of the world’s fastest growing waste streams, electronic waste makes up 5 percent of the municipal solid waste worldwide. e-Waste is extremely hazardous, containing potentially toxic materials, and if not properly disposed of, these chemicals can cause serious environmental and health concerns. In addition, the U.S. EPA reports that 70 to 80 percent of electronics recycling companies directly or indirectly export electronic waste to developing countries overseas. Once in these countries, companies often use slave-like labor as well as unethical and hazardous working conditions to extract the precious metals in these electronic devices. e-Stewards Enterprises agree to use e-Stewards certified electronic recyclers to dispose of this hazardous toxic e-Waste.

The e-Stewards initiative identifies recyclers that adhere to the world’s most rigorous standards in electronics recycling. e-Stewards certified electronics recyclers adhere to the highest global standards for environmental protection and worker safety and strictly prohibit the export of e-Waste into developing countries.

In January 2012, e-Cycle became the first mobile buyback and recycling company to achieve e-Stewards certification. Helping organizations take a more responsible, secure and cost-effective approach to wireless recycling, e-Cycle collects mobile phones from businesses and major organizations, reimbursing them for mobile devices that retain value and recycling all others at no charge. The information on every phone is either deleted or destroyed through the industry’s most rigorous data security measures. Find more information at www.e-Cycle.com.