How does more than 300% growth sound? Dexter-based
ReCellular --a recycler, refurbisher and reseller of discraded cell phones-- employed 170 people last year. Today they have 500 employees with plans for another 50-60 by the end of the year.
ReCellular started out as a cell phone rental company in the early 1990s, but switched to recycling when phones became a disposable commodity. The company now recycles millions of cell phones each year and has cornered more than 50 percent of the market share, according to Mike Newman, vice president of marketing at ReCellular.
Statistics from a U.S. Geological Survey from the U.S. Department of the Interior put projected cell phone sales at greater than 1 billion units per year in 2009, with worldwide use estimates climbing to 2.6 billion cell phones.
Since these phones have an average lifespan of 18 months, ReCellular sees an endless market to tap into. Which may account for why their revenues for this year are on target to increase by 50%.
Named to "
The Green 50" by Inc. Magazine, the company recycled four million phones in 2007 and diverted one million pounds of waste from landfills.
ReCellular is planning for a long and fruitful future that balances its inherently sustainable practices with sustainable profits.