The team in front of the Apple cube

After a long day at the Apple iPhone launch in N.Y., YouRenew.com has returned victorious.

In the battle of old iPhone versus landfill, YouRenew.com is 1-0.

We arrived an hour before launch to greet some enthusiastic Apple fans. Although the crowd was smaller than the last launch, everyone seemed excited and interested in hearing about cell phone recycling.

Our first customer (from TheStreet.com) sold his old iPhone 3G while standing in line and used the cash to upgrade once he got inside.

We even got some interviews and were featured on CNN and CNBC! CNet put us into their live blog and mentioned us in their Podcast, The 404.

Rich reppin' YouRenew

Of course, having a giant iPhone mascot did help to attract the attention. But once we got people talking about recycling their old iPhones, it was easy to get them interested.

In total, we saved more than 100 cell phones from the dumpster at the iPhone launch and there are many more coming in through the Web site.

Most people were shocked by our offer to pay them for their iPhones.

“Wait, let me get this straight,” one new iPhone 3G[s] owner said. “I give you my old iPhone, and you give me cash?”

“yes,” I said.

“Really? What’s the catch?”

“No catch, we just don’t want you to throw it away.”

“That is awesome! I’ll do it!”

We’re glad so many people loved YouRenew.com and have decided to help us save the planet from e-waste. Although putting a little cash in their pockets may have helped convince them, we like to think they did it for the Earth too.