Berkeley

Berkeley Recycler Seeks to Keep Toxic E-Waste Out of the Environment

Published

12 years ago

August 9, 2013

For entrepreneur Kenneth Phillips, starting his own business was a lifelong dream, and the Bay Area native found his niche in the recycling industry.

Specializing in electronic waste disposal, Automatic Recycling Solutions in Berkeley collects computer products, mobile devices, televisions, and other electronic products that could be toxic to the environment if not disposed of properly.

These products are made of lead, nickel, mercury, and cadmium, elements that pose a risk to human and environmental health. In 2009, 25 percent of electronic products were collected for recycling in the U.S., according to a national report. The same report notes that “recycling one million laptops saves the energy equivalent to electricity used by 3,657 U.S. homes in a year.”

When asked how he came across the idea of recycling e-waste, Phillips says the opportunity to get into the industry was serendipitous.

After seeking work as a licensed insurance agent and having been convicted of a felony, Phillips landed in the recycling industry with the help of Farmers Insurance broker Frank Bliss, who got him hired with Automatic Response Systems – a company that does paper shredding. He then started managing the recycling business.

“I found myself thinking of how I could reinvent myself,” says Phillips. “The more people you put in front of you, the better your chances are for you to get that opportunity – that’s in anything you do.”

Phillips started Automatic Recycling Solutions, giving his customers an incentive through buying their e-waste, sometimes at five cents a pound, and selling it to a recycler. Those recyclables can include laptops, mobile phones, which have lithium-ion batteries, aw well as audio and video devices and computer towers.

“What was special about what I was trying to do is that no one’s buying e-waste from the average everyday person. The average person doesn’t have an opportunity to get to the collector because that collector is not going out to talk to them; they’re talking to the businesses,” Phillips says.

“What I did is open the door for the average everyday person to come to the collector. Now, you can come to me and get paid for your stuff.”

At the rate that recycling companies are growing the “green” economy, this industry will produce 1.5 million jobs in the next five to 10 years, Phillips says. He aspires to have the biggest recycling center in Northern California and raise awareness about e-waste.

“[People] don’t realize they’re throwing away stuff with precious minerals and very hazardous waste in these machines that can seep into your soil and your water. All those things can have a long-term affect on the environment and on the people in the environment. We’re all a part of an ecosystem,” Phillips says.

For more information, visit www.automaticrecyclingsolutions.com.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

Army Trucking Company’s Survival Now in Port’s Hands

Don't Miss

Local Schools to Reduce Reliance on Testing

Oakland Post

Click to comment

Bay Area

Progressive Missionary Baptist Church of Berkeley Celebrates 90th Anniversary

Dr. Earl C. Stuckey, Sr., who has served as Progressive Missionary’s pastor since September 1977, said the church also delights in the fact that it has hosted only five pastors in its 90-year history, including Pastors James E. Moore, H. A. Green, F. Douglas Farrell, and Edward Stovall, who served for 37 years.

Published

2 weeks ago

May 16, 2025

Oakland Post

Progressive Missionary Baptist Poster. Dr. Earl C. Stuckey, Sr., Pastor of Progressive Missionary Baptist Church in Berkeley with his wife, Kay Frances Stuckey.

By Oakland Post Staff

The Progressive Missionary Baptist Church of Berkeley is celebrating its 90th church anniversary on Sunday, May 18 at 10 a.m. at 3301 King Street in Berkeley.

The celebration will feature Pastor Darnell Manuel of the Union Baptist Church in Vallejo as guest speaker, along with many other special presentations.

Those who wish to share in Progressive’s history can purchase a 100-page full-colored souvenir book for $25.

The church boasts a number of notable people who either regularly attended or became members of the church since its inception, including former Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, Oakland mayoral candidate Loren Taylor, and one of the organizers of the Gospel Music Workshop of America, Helen J. H. Stephens.

Pastor Stuckey often remarks how longevity flourishes at the church — it boasts 13 centenarians (people who have reached 100 years or more). Currently, it has one centenarian who is still surviving, Mrs. Dorothy Chambers, and 14 members who have reached 90 years or more.

Recently, on Feb.17, the pastor and his wife Kay Frances, celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Faces Around the Bay: Author Karen Lewis Took the ‘Detour to Straight Street’

“My life has been a roller-coaster with an unlimited ride wristband! I was raised in Berkeley during the time of Ron Dellums, the Black Panthers, and People’s Park. I was a Hippie kid, my Auntie cut off all our hair so we could wear the natural styles like her and Angela Davis.

Published

4 weeks ago

April 28, 2025

Oakland Post

Karen Lewis. Courtesy photo.

By Barbara Fluhrer

I met Karen Lewis on a park bench in Berkeley. She wrote her story on the spot.

I got married young, then ended up getting divorced, raising two boys into men. After my divorce, I had a stroke that left me blind and paralyzed. I was homeless, lost in a fog with blurred vision.

Jesus healed me! I now have two beautiful grandkids. At 61, this age and this stage, I am finally free indeed. Our Lord Jesus Christ saved my soul. I now know how to be still. I lay at his feet. I surrender and just rest. My life and every step on my path have already been ordered. So, I have learned in this life…it’s nice to be nice. No stressing, just blessings. Pray for the best and deal with the rest.

Nobody is perfect, so forgive quickly and love easily!”

Lewis’ book “Detour to Straight Street” is available on Amazon.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Golden State Warriors Program Is Inspiring Next Generation of Female Engineers

Breaking down barriers and biases that deter young girls from pursuing STEAM subjects is essential for creating a level playing field and ensuring equal opportunities for all. By challenging stereotypes and promoting a culture of inclusivity and diversity in STEAM fields, experts believe young girls can be empowered to pursue their interests and aspirations without limitations confidently. Encouraging mentorship, providing access to resources, and celebrating girls’ achievements in STEAM are all crucial steps in creating a supportive environment that fosters success.

Published

2 months ago

March 23, 2025

Oakland Post

Front Row: UC Berkeley Steel Bridge Team Back Row: Girls, Inc. Participants. Photo courtesy of the Golden State Warriors.

By Y’Anad Burrell

The Golden State Warriors and e-commerce giant Rakuten are joining forces to inspire the next generation of female engineers through Building STEAM Futures, part of The City Calls campaign.

Organizers say the initiative is founded on the idea that science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) are crucial fields for innovation and progress, and empowering young girls to pursue careers in these areas is more important than ever. Studies consistently show that girls are underrepresented in STEAM fields, resulting in a gender disparity that limits potential and hinders diversity.

On Saturday, March 8, International Women’s Day, the Warriors and Rakuten hosted 20 middle school girls from Girls Inc. of Alameda County at Chase Center’s Above the Rim for a hands-on bridge-building experience. The young girls from Girls, Inc. of Alameda County had an opportunity to design, build and test their own bridge prototypes and learn the fundamentals of bridge construction from the Engineering Alliance and the UC Berkeley Steel Bridge Team.

This STEAM experience for the girls followed the first session in January, where they took a behind-the-scenes tour of the Golden Gate Bridge, learning about its design and construction from industry experts. The City Calls campaign, tipped off with the unveiling the Warriors’ new bridge-themed City Edition jerseys and court design earlier this year.