Dexter-based ReCellular plans to announce a $15 million venture capital financing Thursday.

The money is to be used for what the company is calling "an ambitious expansion of both employment and operations in Michigan" for the electronics recycling company.

The investment is indicative of the growing interest in the "clean-tech" sector. According to the National Venture Capital Association, investment in clean-tech operations has increased 10-fold over the past five years, from $235 million in 2003 to $2.6 billion in 2008.

ReCellular is on track this year to collect more than six million phones and recycle more    than 1.5 million pounds of materials. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, recycling six million phones reduces industry carbon emissions equivalent to 8,400 cars over a year.