ecoATM Announces Incentivized Laptop Computer Take-Back Program in Partnership With Nebraska Furniture Mart

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 17, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- ecoATM, the San Diego start-up known for its commitment to the environment and its innovative kiosks that buy-back and recycle consumer electronics, today announced it has added laptop computers to the growing list of electronics that consumers can recycle at kiosks in Nebraska Furniture Mart locations in Omaha, Neb. and Kansas City, Kansas. Nebraska Furniture Mart is offering incentives of between $50 and $100 for any used laptop, working or not, toward the purchase of a new Intel-based laptop. Nebraska Furniture Mart is a Berkshire Hathaway company, and one of the leading electronics retailers in the US.

For recycled laptops, consumers will be paid $50, $75, or $100 as in-store credits towards the purchase of a new laptop computer based on Intel i3, i5, and i7-branded microprocessors respectively. Trade-in/trade-up programs are increasingly popular as a life cycle management opportunity that benefits consumers, retailers and manufacturers alike.

In addition to laptops, ecoATM kiosks already buy-back mobile phones, MP3 players, iPods and video games.

ecoATM is also partnering with the National Cristina Foundation, a non-profit organization that matches donated computer equipment with needy schools and nonprofit organizations around the world. The program will help place the laptops back into reuse with American school kids and physically challenged individuals who otherwise cannot afford access to the technologies.

Laptops destined for reuse will undergo data sanitization processes, and will then be redistributed locally for a token recycling fee. "We are proud to partner with National Cristina Foundation, a leader in the reuse of computers serving underprivileged markets throughout the US," said Tom Tullie, ecoATM's Chairman and CEO. "This gives ecoATM a partner that supports thousands of charities nationwide, maximizing legitimate product reuse whenever possible."

Laptops that cannot be recycled will be disassembled for materials reclamation and recycling. Toxic heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury and more are captured, ensuring they do not contaminate the environment, while gold, silver, copper and others are refined and reused, mitigating additional mining worldwide to source these materials.

About ecoATM

Based in San Diego, Calif., ecoATM (http://www.ecoatm.com) is the first company to create an automated self-serve kiosk system that uses patented, advanced machine vision, electronic diagnostics, and artificial intelligence to evaluate and buy-back used electronics directly from consumers for cash or store credit. ecoATM's eCycling stations provide a convenient trade-in solution that:

• electronically and/or visually inspect virtually any consumer electronic device,
• connects consumers in real-time with a broad worldwide secondary market to ensure best pricing, and
• pays consumers immediately in cash and/or store credit, and
• automatically administers trade-in / trade-up promotions for retailers and manufacturers.

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SOURCE ecoATM