Customer Experience

EcoATM collected 7.5 million devices last year

Photo: Adobe Stock

February 20, 2026

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San Diego-based ecoATM collected 7.5 million electronic devices for reuse or recycling in 2025, according to a Waste Today Magazine report. The devices were gathered through ecoATM's network of kiosks, which are located in more than 7,000 retail locations across the United States, including Walmart, Kroger and Dollar General. The company also expanded internationally, launching 13 kiosks in Canada in September.

The company ecoATM pays consumers to recycle smartphones and other devices directly at its kiosks. Users insert a device, which is photographed and analyzed to determine its condition, while the kiosk reads the phone's international mobile equipment identity, or IMEI, to confirm it is not lost or stolen. The system also captures an image of the consumer's ID and a selfie, which are reviewed by remote staff to verify identity. Once validated, consumers receive an offer paid in cash or via Venmo or PayPal.

After collection, devices are removed from kiosks when cash is restocked and shipped to ecoATM's processing facility in Louisville, Ky., which handles about 20,000 devices per day. Once at the facility, phones are inspected, graded and wiped of data if they power on, then held for a 30-day "soak period" to allow time for disputes or reversals. Following that period, devices deemed suitable are refurbished and resold, while others are sent to ISO-certified recycling partners to recover materials such as gold, aluminum and copper.

EcoATM says its model supports a circular economy by reducing electronic waste and limiting demand for new device manufacturing, which carries environmental and human health impacts. The company also offers a "recycle-only" option for consumers who do not wish to receive payment. Refurbished devices are sold through ecoATM's Gazelle brand or through other resale partners.