Flickr: brieahearn

Even as people are becoming increasingly aware of their environmental impact, millions of electronic devices are still being hauled off to the landfill. With new models constantly rolling out, used cell phones, computers, MP3 players, and every electronic device in between are being unnecessarily discarded. Not only is this extremely wasteful, but these electronics leak all kinds of toxic runoff into the soil and water surrounding the landfill.

Realizing this problem, many companies have started refurbishing electronics (especially cell phones and computers) to prevent them from ending up in landfills. There is now a growing refurbished electronics market that gives consumers a cheaper and greener option for obtaining new gadgets.

Unlike the term “new,” there is not a strict definition for items sold as “refurbished.” Often, items labeled as refurbished have simply been used and returned within a short trial period and can no longer be sold as new. These devices are sent back to the manufacturer, who restores them to their original, new condition and re-sells them, usually with a warranty.

Refurbishing electronics is a win-win-win situation for consumers, retailers and the environment. Refurbished cell phones have become increasingly popular and are available from smaller companies like Credo Mobile as well as mobile phone giants like AT & T.

Credo Mobile refurbishes their phones (like the Samsung M300 and the Sanyo Katana) by rebuilding them from used parts. Priced at $9.99 and free, respectively, with a two-year contract, these refurbished phones are  much more affordable than their “new” counterparts. Credo’s refurbished phones come with a one-year warranty.

The refurbished phones from AT&T are all phones that have been returned during the company’s 30-day trial period, restored to their original quality, and independently tested. AT & T offers a bevy of refurbished phones at significantly discounted prices, including the ever-popular iPhone and Blackberry. Their refurbished cell phones come with a 90-day warranty and the same 30-day return policy that the company gives with its new phones.

This trend of refurbishing electronic devices seems to be a no-brainer: people can buy cheaper phones, companies can still make money from phones that have been returned, and fewer electronic devices are being added to the mountains of gadgets already piled up in landfills.

By Elizabeth Wolfe