How to Recycle Your Old Cell Phone

jplatt — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:05:36 -0400

According to recent reports, there are more than 3 billion cell phone subscriptions worldwide. That's a lot of phones, and a lot of toxic waste when those little devices aren't disposed of properly. In the U.S. alone, less than 10% of old cell phone handsets are recycled, mostly because people don't know how to get rid of them.

So let's turn that trend around. Here are a number of quick and easy ways you can safely dispose of your old cell phones, which can help to keep tons of toxic chemicals out of our landfills:

1. Check with your retailer -- Many companies have buy-back or take-back programs when you buy a new cell phone to replace your old one. Check first, though, to make sure they will dispose of it in an environmentally responsible way.

2. Go to Best Buy or Staples -- These big-box retailers, like several other stores, have free or low-cost electronics recycling programs. Just bring your phone in and they'll do the rest.

3. Ask your local non-profits -- Many local organizations (like Lions and Rotary clubs) collect used cell phones and get a few dollars for every phone they collect. The phones get recycled or re-sold, and the funds the groups raise go back into their efforts in your local community. (Interested in starting a cell phone fund-raiser for your own non-profit? Here's one site than can help.)

4. Donate it to a national charity -- Quite a few national charities collect used cell phones, and also earn money just like the local groups above. Collective Good offers connections to dozens of national and international groups, including several environmental organizations.

5. Sell your old phone -- Just because it's old doesn't mean it won't still work for somoene else. Try cellforcash.com, which buys many makes and models.

6. Go online -- Here are a few more sites that will help you dispose of your phone with little or no cost to you:

http://www.recellular.com/recycling/

http://www.cellularchallenge.net/

http://recyclemycellphone.org/

http://www.eco-cell.org/

toxic materials

How to Recycle Your Old Cell Phone