by Shane Henson — March 28, 2012—Nearly everyone in America has a cell phone these days, and while this has made it easier for people to stay in contact with each other, the growing amount of cell phones being produced every year also means even more are being sent to landfills and further burdening the environment. In fact, more than 1.68 billion wireless devices are produced each year, yet less than 1% of these devices are recycled and even fewer are renewed, reports the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
Yet a new initiative started by Sprint Nextel, Brightstar Corp., ModusLink Global Solutions, the CDMA Development Group, and eRecyclingCorps, the worldwide provider of carrier-grade wireless device trade-in solutions, could begin to help remedy this problem. Together, the group created the Device Renewal Forum (DRF). They say the goal of the DRF is to expand the growth of the renewed wireless devices market by establishing a common certification for refurbished wireless phones. The group will work across all the wireless interface technologies including but not limited to GSM, CDMA2000, EV-DO, HSPA and LTE.
The DRF will further provide a global forum to address issues related to renewing wireless devices. Its subcommittees will establish a technology-agnostic “gold standard” for testing and certifying renewed devices. This initiative will use the world’s “best practices” to extend the lifecycle of wireless phones already in market and mitigate impacts to the environment, they say. The DRF certification process will also help to ensure that only high-quality and properly functioning devices reenter the marketplace.
By renewing and certifying refurbished wireless devices, the demand for affordable phones in markets can be fulfilled, while preserving the environment, conserving materials, minimizing pollution and eliminating waste.
The Device Renewal Forum is open to companies and organizations worldwide that want to make a positive and significant impact on the environment and future of the wireless industry, says the group. DRF anticipates support from wireless service providers, device original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), collectors, distributors, trade-in resellers, retailers and government agencies that share common goals on device recycling.
