ecoATM, a San Diego company that operates self-service kiosks that provide payments for unwanted cell phones, said it received its 1 millionth device recently.

The firm that was founded in 2012 has about 400 kiosks across the country, mainly at major shopping malls. The machines accept cell phones, MP3 players, and tablets in any condition, do an assessment on the device and provide an immediate rebate.

Citing the federal Environmental Protection Agency, the company said the 1 million devices recycled is the equivalent of removing 1,981 average houses off the grid for a year, and 152 cars from the roads for a year.

“People are recognizing that e-waste is a real problem and that there are convenient solutions for responsibly disposing of unwanted electronics,” said Tom Tullie, ecoATM’s chairman and chief executive officer.

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