As Part Of The Act In Conserving The Environment, Amazon Accepts Obsolete Or Damaged Electronic Devices For Recycling

Used cell phones or obsolete electronic devices are accepted by Amazon for recycling. (photo: doc. pixabay)

JAKARTA - If you have a flip phone that you haven't used in over a decade, or even a broken tablet, Amazon will pay for the shipping you used to send it to the company for recycling.

Amazon's recycling program allows you to ship your small electronics for free from any UPS delivery point. You just need to provide the packaging.

Amazon then transfers the device it receives to a licensed recycling facility, and notes that it will delete or destroy any "identifier or personal information" during the process. Amazon also recommends that you do a factory reset on your device, if it still works, before shipping it.

According to Amazon spokesman Saige Kolpack, the company's recycling program is nothing new. In fact it's actually been around “for years” and Amazon just relaunched a new page in April to make it easier for customers to find them.

Not to be confused with Amazon's trade-in program, which allows you to send Amazon devices, cell phones, video games, and other electronics in exchange for Amazon gift cards. You don't get anything in return for sending your device in for recycling, other than the personal satisfaction that you're doing your little part in helping the environment.

This program is limited to small electronic devices only. You can find a list of all accepted devices if you click over to Amazon's recycling page. These devices include e-readers, tablets, keyboards, mice, video game consoles, device covers, cell phones, fitness trackers, smart home devices, and more.

They're very receptive to any little device you could put in a small box or envelope — damaged or not — as long as they don't have a "bloated or leaky battery."