PeerSpring

Electronic waste, or “e-waste”, is an umbrella term for the electronic devices that have fallen into disuse. Electronic waste currently makes up over 70% of all toxic waste in America. However, according to the EPA, only around 28% of all e-waste is recycled properly. This leaves 72% of the 238.5 million TV’s, 444.4 million computers and tablets, and 1.75 million mobile phones that are sold every year to potentially add to our landfills and pollute our environments.

Recycling, reusing, and repurposing these devices is our best option. Aside from selling old mobile phones, there are all kinds of other things that can be done with old electronics – everything from using old phones to stop illegal logging, to turning your old computer into a media center.

Pretty much anything is better than just throwing your old electronics into the garbage. Start recycling, and help clean up our planet!

When I was 4 years old, my family immigrated to the United States from China. We moved to Northern California, where my parents started their own small business. My parents are both very hard workers, which is something that I grew to respect and incorporate into my own life. By the time I started high school, I had begun learning about entrepreneurship and social responsibility. I also came across the issue of discarded electronics, and realized that I could combine these things into a new enterprise.

During my sophomore year of high school, I founded iReTRON to combat the growing problem of e-waste in a way that was sustainable and gave people a real-world incentive to participate. I came up with the idea of paying people to send us their used cell phones, tablets, and other electronic devices, which iReTRON would then make sure were recycled or reused properly. Since founding my company in 2011, I have had two investors provide me with $100,000 to support my venture, in exchange for a 20% stake in my company and any other that I start within the next five years. With their help, I can expand my method of recycling electronic devices further than I ever dreamed. To date, my website has logged more than 10,000 transactions and generated over $80,000 in revenue.

iReTron wants to change the world. One iPod, one cell phone, one tablet at a time. Our goal is to change the way we recycle and the way we look at our worn-out electronics. We are here to offer you an easy way to get rid of your old electronics responsibly and conveniently. Not only do we take out the guilt of throwing away your old iPod or cellphone, we'll even pay you for going green!

It is our purpose, and our promise, to provide a practical and rewarding way for people to let go of the out-dated or broken electronics and improve the world in the process.

Below is a list of supporting documents and different ways people can help:

PRIORITY #1: 1. Sell Us Your Electronic Device

At iReTRON, we buy a lot of different electronic devices. Everything from smartphones, tablets, and MP3 players, to calculators, e-readers, and more.

PRIORITY #2: 2. Hold An E-waste Collection

Many people have at least a small collection of electronic devices that they’ve accumulated over the years, but never use anymore. Other people simply throw away their unwanted devices in the trash, c

PRIORITY #3: 3. Raise Awareness

Despite how widespread smartphones and other devices are today, a lot of people might not think about what happens to their devices once they’re done using them.

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  Jason Li

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  Jason founded iReTron.com in his sophomore year of high school, acting as CEO from then onward. Jason has always cared deeply for the environment and has been a strong advocate for going green ever since the beginning of high school. He has been to many high schools, colleges, and festivals to create awareness for the e-waste crisis and how iReTron.com has been doing its part in lessening e-waste. He has been invited to many conferences and sustainability fairs such as TEDxTeen and The Green Festival. Aside from school and iReTron, Jason enjoys photography and cinematography. He has gone across the world to perform at piano concerts and also does wrestling and Judo.