SEATTLE (Recycling Monster): PayMore is proving that environmental impact and business growth can thrive together. The brand’s stores now recycle more than 1.1 million pounds of e-waste each year, buy and repurpose 1.58 million devices. Globally, more than 62 million tons of e-waste are produced each year, yet only about 20% is properly collected and recycled, according to the 2024 Global E-Waste Monitor. That means billions of phones, laptops, and other devices end up in landfills or unregulated waste streams, releasing toxins into soil and water.
PayMore is directly tackling this crisis by giving technology a second life. Each store offers free recycling for unwanted devices, secure data destruction, and cash payouts for working tech, creating a consumer incentive that drives both environmental and economic sustainability. “Every pound of e-waste we recycle is one less pound of toxins entering our environment,” said Stephen Preuss, CEO of PayMore. “Our mission is simple: make sustainability accessible, profitable, and scalable. We’ve built a business model where helping the planet also helps our franchisees succeed.”
“We’re not just recycling devices, we’re rebuilding how people think about technology ownership,” said Erik Helgesen, President of PayMore. “This isn’t a short-term trend. It’s a shift toward conscious consumption, and our growth shows how ready consumers and entrepreneurs are for it.”
Courtesy: www.wasteadvantagemag.com