The Basel Action Network (www.BAN.org), a global toxic trade watchdog organization, announced today that Columbus based mobile phone recycling company e-Cycle LLC is the first mobile phone buyback and recycling company certified as an e-Stewards® recycler, adhering to the highest global standards for socially and environmentally responsible electronics recycling.

Created by the Basel Action Network (BAN), the e-Stewards® certification program is the only electronics recycler certification program that prohibits the export of hazardous waste to developing countries, requires a certified ISO 14001 environmental management system, includes industry-specific worker health and safety requirements, bans the use of prison labor in handling of sensitive data, and can be used internationally. The certification was written by the environmental community and leaders in the industry to protect human health and the global environment.

“In the absence of leadership or laws requiring responsible electronics recycling here in the United States, we felt it was necessary to create a program to help people find a responsible recycler,” said Jim Puckett, BAN’s Executive Director.  “e-Cycle has undergone a rigorous independent audit process to ensure they are upholding the highest standards for wireless recycling and worker safety. Businesses and organizations throughout the world can be confident that e-Cycle will recycle and reuse their used mobile devices responsibly.”

An award-winning 60 Minutes expose entitled “The Electronic Wasteland”, that aired in late 2008 and again in June of 2011, left viewers , business leaders, and government officials wondering if their best intentions to recycle hazardous electronic products had gone awry.  The piece featured a seemingly responsible recycling company collecting e-waste from Denver residents and surreptitiously shipping it to poor countries where it was being dumped and burned. BAN was an integral part of the investigation.

“e-Cycle was founded on three guiding principals—a love for the environment, technology and charitable giving,” said e-Cycle Founder and CEO Christopher Irion. “Achieving our e-Stewards and R2 Certifications not only improves e-Cycle’s processes and differentiates us from other mobile recycling companies, it reinforces the essence of e-Cycle’s core brand image among the most ethical and trustworthy wireless recycling companies in the world. Through the guidance of the e-Stewards Standard, we will continually improve our business model and processes.”

About e-Cycle LLC
Ranked the #68 Most Promising Company in America by Forbes and the #5 fastest growing environmental services company in the U.S. by Inc., e-Cycle helps organizations take a more responsible, secure and profitable approach to wireless mobile phone recycling. e-Cycle purchases used mobile phones and pads that still retain value and recycles all others at no charge through an EPA-registered facility. The data on every reusable phone undergoes a rigorous, multi-step data deletion and auditing process to permanently remove confidential information. e-Cycle is e-Stewards Certified, which includes ISO 14001, and R2 certified. View the e-Cycle Process Video.

About e-Stewards® Certification
The e-Stewards Certification program, created by the Basel Action Network (BAN), formally recognizes electronics recyclers that adhere to environmentally and socially responsible practices when recovering hazardous electronic materials. It is the first such program backed by environmental organizations and major corporations alike. The accredited third-party audited certification program is supported by the USEPA and is endorsed by Greenpeace USA, the Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Electronics TakeBack Coalition and 68 other environmental organizations.  It has also drawn the public support of major corporate “e-Stewards Enterprises” including Alcoa, LG Electronics, Bank of America, Capital One Financial Corp. and Wells Fargo.