August 09, 2010 12:00 ET

EcoSquid Makes It Easy for Consumers to Sell or Recycle Used Electronics

EcoSquid Enters the Electronics "reCommerce" Market as the First Solution to Aggregate the Industry's Top Electronics Trade-In and Recycling Solutions Onto a Single Platform

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - August 9, 2010) - EcoSquid today announced the availability of a new web platform that helps consumers find their best options to resell or recycle used electronics. The solution comes at a time when regulators, environmentalists, and manufacturers are searching for efficient solutions to stem the flow of electronic waste (e-waste). EcoSquid is now featured on the Environmental Protection Agency's "eCycling" website as a resource for consumers.

The Electronic Waste Problem

Currently, less than 20% of e-waste is recycled. Most of it is either stashed in drawers or thrown in the trash. Over the last several years, many solutions have emerged that make it easy for consumers to trade-in or recycle their old gadgets, but a lack of consumer awareness caused by fragmentation in the market has slowed adoption of these services. 

EcoSquid's Approach:

EcoSquid solves this problem by creating a single platform that integrates trade-in and recycling programs from major retailers, resellers, non-profits, and recyclers. Rather than researching these programs individually, a consumer can use EcoSquid to find the best deals in a matter of seconds. 

With EcoSquid's search engine, a consumer can quickly find the product that s/he wishes to dispose of. If the product has value, the consumer can choose which deal (in the form of cash or gift cards) s/he prefers based on a number of factors, including price offered and user reviews of the service. If the product has no value or the consumer is not interested in trading it in, EcoSquid recommends the best way to responsibly recycle or donate it. EcoSquid also displays which companies are part of EPA's Plug-In To eCycling program, a partnership that fosters and promotes the safe reuse and recycling of electronics.

"We hope that by creating a single integrated destination for consumers wishing to dispose of their electronics, we can encourage them to take advantage of some of the great services that are out there," says Nik Raman, President and co-founder of EcoSquid.

Partnerships:

EcoSquid has signed up a number of major online resellers to participate on the portal. It will also list information about drop-off rewards programs like ecoATM in addition to recycling programs of major retailers and non-profits such as Best Buy, Staples, and Goodwill.

"EcoSquid is an innovative solution that is great for the entire electronics recycling industry," says Seth Heine, cofounder of ecoATM. "It enables savvy consumers to find the trade-in and recycling services that are right for them, whether they prefer to transact online or in person. We believe EcoSquid's customers will appreciate that ecoATM's pricing is competitive with web-based solutions, with the added benefit of providing immediate payment and data wiping right at the kiosk."

EcoSquid's Vision:

In addition to being an informational portal, EcoSquid hopes to become a forum for discussion of the electronic waste issue among consumers. By getting consumers more engaged with the ever-growing problem of electronic waste, EcoSquid aims not only to benefit the e-waste industry, but also to reduce the adverse effects of e-waste on human health and the environment.

About EcoSquid

EcoSquid is a web platform that offers objective information about electronics trade-in and recycling options available in the market. EcoSquid is on a mission to combat the environmental threat of electronic waste. Reselling or recycling electronics on EcoSquid keeps e-waste from ending up in landfills. You can visit EcoSquid at www.ecosquid.com.