recycle cell phones Archives

November 13, 2013 — Comments are off for this post.

Generation Y Poses Mobile Security Threat to BYOD Policies

Generation Y is bringing mobile security threats with them as they enter the workforce. According to a recent Fortinet survey, this tech-savvy generation is more willing to break the rules and put your corporate data at risk.

Fortinet surveyed 3,200 college graduates with full-time jobs between the ages of 21 and 32 in 20 countries. The respondents all owned a smartphone, tablet and/or laptop.

The research found that 51 percent of those surveyed would bypass company policies that restrict the use of personal devices, cloud storage or emerging wearable technology for work. It also showed a 42 percent increase in the willingness to break usage rules compared to a similar survey conducted last year.

Of the 89 percent of respondents that stated they had a personal cloud storage account, 70 percent admitted to using their account for work-related items such as passwords, financial information, confidential business documents and customer data:

12 percent - work passwords
16 percent - financial information
22 percent - confidential business documents (contracts and plans)
33 percent - customer data

Thirty six percent of respondents using their personal cloud for work purposes said they would break any rules enacted to stop them.

While the study’s results make the future of mobile management appear dismal, there is a silver lining. The vast majority - 88 percent - of the respondents accept that they have an obligation to understand the security risks posed by using their own devices. Education and advancements in technology services could be the solution to the BYOD security threat Fortinet has brought to the forefront.

IT administrators must proactively educate employees, particularly Gen Y, about mobile security threats and the risks associated with their actions. Also, consider distributing basic security best practices such as only using a secure Wi-Fi connection or keeping software up-to-date to protect their devices and the company’s data.

In addition, new tools and services cannot simply be ignored or banned. If employees are embracing unsanctioned technologies, it's generally to fill a void that existing devices and services aren't addressing. Listen to users to better understand the business value of these tools. Then find a solution that fills the employee’s need, while keeping sensitive corporate data protected.

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e-Cycle is the trusted wireless partner for many of the largest organizations in the world. As the first mobile recycling company to achieve e-Stewards certification, we adhere to the highest standards for environmental responsibility and worker health and safety. e-Cycle offers a simple, secure, environmentally responsible and profitable way for businesses to sell and recycle used mobile phones and tablets. Learn more at www.e-Cycle.com.

Published by mast in Uncategorized

Tags: data security, Gen Y in the workplace, recycle cell phones, sell cell phones

October 7, 2013 — Comments are off for this post.

Consumers Hesitant to Recycle and Resell Used Cell Phones

Nearly 60 percent of people who do not recycle used cell phones refrain from doing so because they don’t know where to recycle their devices or they don’t trust that the data will be destroyed, according to an online poll conducted by Earth911 for the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI).

The poll was conducted on Earth911’s website from June 20 to September 9, 2013 and received responses from more than 900 individuals. The results support the findings of the U.S. International Trade Commission’s study that indicated only 25 percent of all household used electronics are recycled.

As consumers enthusiastically await the arrival their new Apple iPhone 5s or 5c, it is important to keep in mind the urgent need to responsibly sell and recycle old cell phones to protect their data and environment. For every 42 cell phones recycled, enough energy is saved to power an average household for an entire year.

Why Consumers Aren't Recycling Their Cell Phones

According to the poll, 21 percent of respondents say they have not recycled their old mobile device because they keep it as a backup, while 20 percent say they just earth911 statistics haven’t gotten around to it. Thirty percent indicated that they don’t know where to recycle their cell phone and 29 percent of respondents say they are worried about data security risks associated with recycling.

To ensure the personal data on your cell phone is protected, e-Cycle mobile buyback and recycling recommends consumers avoid selling their devices on eBay, Craiglist and to be very wary of online buyback companies or kiosks in shopping malls that offer to purchase used electronics devices. Often they provide no assurance of data deletion and have been known to resell wireless devices with private data still remaining. e-Cycle encourages consumers to only use electronics recyclers who do more than just a factory reset for data deletion, which does not remove all personal data. Residual personal data often remains, stored in hidden menus, even after a mobile phone has been brought back to factory settings. Be certain your recycler is doing more than a simple factory reset by asking questions and carefully reviewing their terms and conditions.

e-Cycle urges reluctant consumers to only sell or recycle their used mobile phones and tablets with an e-Stewards certified recycling company to ensure their data and the environment are protected. e-Stewards requires certified recyclers to adhere to the highest global standards of environmental protection and has stringent data security measures as part of its certification. e-Stewards certified recyclers are required to delete or destroy all the data from the devices they receive.

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e-Cycle is the trusted wireless mobile buyback and recycling partner for many of the largest organizations in the world. As the first mobile recycling company to achieve e-Stewards certification, we adhere to the highest standards for environmental responsibility and worker health and safety. e-Cycle offers a simple, secure, environmentally responsible and profitable way for businesses to sell and recycle used mobile phones and tablets. Learn more at www.e-Cycle.com.

Published by mast in Uncategorized

Tags: data security, Earth 911, Mobile security, recycle cell phones, recycle iphone, sell iphone

September 11, 2013 — Comments are off for this post.

e-Cycle President, Tonia Irion, Honored with 2013 Rosie Award by Waste & Recycling News

e-Cycle Co-founder and President, Tonia Irion, was recognized as a Waste & Recycling News 2013 Rosie Award winner for innovations in the recycling, waste and sustainability industry.

Embodying the award’s namesake, Rosie the Riveter, Tonia has demonstrated innovation and vision by helping organizations invest their telecom budgets wisely, while protecting the environment and their wireless data through the responsible reuse and recycling of used mobile devices.

“It’s a tremendous honor to be recognized among such an inspirational group of woman who are leading their companies to new levels of innovation in the recycling industry," said Irion. "The entire e-Cycle team is passionate about the protecting the environment, keeping toxic e-waste from landfills and helping our clients make a positive difference in their communities."

e-Cycle was founded on three guiding principals: a passion for environmental protection, a love of technology and a commitment to charitable giving. In 2013 Tonia formed the e-Cycle Foundation, through which, e-Cycle’s clients can turn revenues from their mobile buyback programs into tax-deductible donations to the charities of their choice. Since 2005, e-Cycle has contributed approximately $1 million to multiple non-profits solely through proceeds gained from the wireless recycling programs of its clients.

For more information on Waste & Recycling News’ Rosie Awards and to see the full list of 2013 winners, visit www.wasterecyclingnews.com/section/rosie13.

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e-Cycle is the trusted wireless mobile buyback and recycling partner for many of the largest organizations in the world. As the first mobile recycling company to achieve e-Stewards certification, we adhere to the highest standards for environmental responsibility and worker health and safety. e-Cycle offers a simple, secure, environmentally responsible and profitable way for businesses to sell and recycle used mobile phones and tablets. Learn more at www.e-Cycle.com.

Published by mast in Uncategorized

Tags: e-Stewards, e-Waste, recycle cell phones, Recycle iPhones, Rosie Awards, Waste and Recycling News

July 30, 2013 — Comments are off for this post.

BAN and e-Cycle Urge Use of e-Stewards Recyclers After e-Waste Executive is Sent to Prison for Exportation of Hazardous Waste

Executive Recycling and its leadership were sentenced for their role in exporting e-waste overseas to developing countries. This is the first time anyone has been convicted for such a crime in the U.S.

The corporation was sentenced to pay a $4,500,000 fine and serve three years on probation.

Brandon Richter was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison, followed by three years on supervised release, in addition to a $7,500 fine and $70,144 in restitution.

Tor Olson, the former vice president of operations for the corporation, was sentenced to 14 months in prison with a $5,000 fine and ordered to pay more than $15,000 in restitution. Olson is currently free on bond pending appeal.

The prosecution argued that the company devised a scheme to defraud Colorado businesses and government entities. They deceived their customers by stating their electronics were being recycled responsibly and domestically within the United States. Prosecution alleged the company exported 300 containers between 2005 and 2008 to developing countries, containing a total of 100,000 CRTs.

Olson and CEO Brandon Ritcher were indicted in 2011 after their company become the centerpiece of the award winning 60 Minutes episode, The Electronic Wasteland, that used research from BAN to show 20 containers filled with e-waste leaving Executive's facility going to China and other developing countries.

BAN Executive Director, Jim Puckett, stated, “Sadly, the two Denver executives that made a fortune exploiting the environment and workers health in developing countries, represent just a sample of the US toxic e-waste flood flowing offshore. There are many hundreds of similar ‘charlatan recyclers’ operating in every US city every day – all of them pretending to protect the environment while simply filling up sea-going containers of your old TVs, printers, phones and computers.”

e-Stewards Certification

To provide consumers with an easy way to identify responsible recyclers, BAN created the e-Stewards® Certification program. e-Stewards recyclers and refurbishers refuse to export e-waste because they are conscious of the catastrophic harm to the environment and heath of locals that is can cause. They are audited yearly to demonstrate compliance to the rigorous e-Stewards Standard. e-Stewards recyclers This international treaty governing waste trade has been adopted by over 170 countries.

Electronic consumers should only make use of certified e-Stewards recyclers and not be deceived by the green promises of other certifications or claims purporting recycling responsibility.

Responsible Electronics Recycling Act

BAN is calling for support for the Responsible Electronics Recycling Act (RERA); which will prohibit the unsustainable export of toxic e-waste. According to BAN, without clear laws, prosecution is difficult. In Executive Recycling’s trial, prosecutors had to prove fraud because current environmental trade rules are rampant with loopholes. The RERA would rectify that and is already supported by many American recyclers, manufactures and retailers.

Consumers wishing to do the right thing with their e-waste, should do two simple things: a) only use e-Stewards certified recyclers or refurbishers; b) contact your congressman to support the RERA.

“Sooner or later everybody has e-waste,” said Puckett. “So everybody has the responsibility and opportunity to ensure that the recyclers they use are certified to the highest levels of integrity and environmental protection. At the same time, we can ask our representatives to support laws that ensure that the costs of toxic products are internalized by American businesses, and not simply dumped on foreign shores.”

Read the official BAN press release here.

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e-Cycle is the trusted wireless mobile buyback and recycling partner for many of the largest organizations in the world. As the first mobile recycling company to achieve e-Stewards certification, we adhere to the highest standards for environmental responsibility and worker health and safety. e-Cycle offers a simple, secure, environmentally responsible and profitable way for businesses to sell and recycle used mobile phones and tablets. Learn more at www.e-Cycle.com.

Published by mast in Uncategorized

Tags: e-waste laws, exportation of e-waste, mobile phones, recycle cell phones