Alcoa and AT&T have released two separate recycling apps for the iPhone to help consumers find the nearest recycling centers, along with a host of other features.
Alcoa's free recycling app, called Aluminate, is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. The company designed the new app to make it easy for consumers to recycle aluminum cans. The app will help consumers find recycling centers, track how many aluminum cans they (individually or teams) recycle, and calculate the cash they can earn as they help protect the environment.
The app also allows users to share their results with others on Facebook or by email, "Aluminate" their picture and post online, watch videos and read fun facts about how recycling aluminum can help save energy and protect the environment. The app is available for download here by searching keyword "Aluminate."
Alcoa and the Aluminum Association set a goal to increase the recycling rate of aluminum cans in the U.S. to 75 percent by the year 2015, which could be met if every American recycled one more can per week, says Alcoa.
AT&T's "Eco App" is aimed at helping teens connect with local recycling centers, sustainability tips and a way to donate to the Arbor Day Foundation. The app is available for iPhone and iPod touch.
The new app also supports AT&T's broader initiative, the "One Million Eco Challenge" program, designed to drive greater environmental awareness among youth and to encourage more energy-efficient practices every day.
In addition to helping users locate nearby recycling centers powered by 1800recycling.com, the Eco App helps users better understand the environmental benefits of paperless billing, contribute funding to the Arbor Day Foundation, and receive tips and updates on local events focused on the environment.
Working with the Arbor Day Foundation, AT&T will plant a tree for every customer who opts-in to paperless billing in 2010 -- up to 1 million trees this year. The app's "Counter" view provides a look at how each download impacts AT&T’s ongoing eco challenge.
The app is available for free from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore.
According to AT&T's 2009 sustainability report, the company kept 72.1 million pounds of network scrap materials out of landfills by reusing, selling and recycling materials including copper, copper cable, lead, lead-acid batteries, steel, plastic, and aluminum. The company also collected more than 63,000 computers, monitors and servers for donation, reuse and recycling in 2009.