Recycling Your Cell Phone for the Environment
January 17, 2012 
6 Comments
Did you know that electronic waste is slowly overtaking landfills? Electronic waste in the form of cell phones, computers and mP3 players is at an all time high. It is estimated that of the 130 million cell phones that are switched off, stuffed in a drawer or disposed of every year, only one percent are recycled.
Because of the space these phones require in landfills and the harm their components can do to the environment, many states are beginning to enact requirements on cell phone recycling. Retailers in these states are required, by law, to take outdated, broken or otherwise unused cell phones from consumers at no charge.
We know what you’re asking…
“How does recycling cell phones help the environment?”
Copper
One ton of cellular phones can provide close to 100Kg of copper and that amount of copper is more than can be pulled from an equal amount of its own ore. By recycling these devices for copper, we reduce the impact of copper mining on the environment.
Green House Gases
No matter what a factory produces, as long as it is producing, it is releasing green house gases into the atmosphere. By recycling used cell phones, using them for parts or even donating them to shelters, we reduce the need to produce more new phones.
Lead
Lead that is leached into our groundwater supply has been shown to cause problems with the liver, kidneys and other vital organs. By recycling our used mobile phones, we are safely reusing or removing the lead components from our environment.
Plastic
Once recycled, the plastic casings of cell phones are used to make park decks, playground equipment and even saxophones. In fact, every single component found inside of a cell phone can be recycled. Just imagine if all of the cell phones that are discarded each year would be recycled instead!
What else can you do with your old cell phones?
There are many organizations will take cell phones and either recycle them to raise money or give them to people in need. Some of these organizations are:
Cell Phones for Soldiers: this organization will accept your used cell phones and convert them into calling cards, prepaid of course, for soldiers overseas. In the three years the program has been running, over 12 million minutes have been given to these men and women.
http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/
Shelter Alliance: this organization runs the largest mobile phone donation program in the country. Collection programs are available for students, businesses, organizations and individuals.
http://shelteralliance.net/
Collective Good: this organization makes it worthwhile to donate your cell phone. Different incentives are offered throughout the year and have included $5 gift cards for every phone donated.
Before you toss your outdated cell phone in the garbage, find out if your company takes used cell phones for some type of recycling program. If your office doesn’t, check with your child’s school. If you can’t easily recycle your phone, consider donating it to a charity; there’s always someone who will be more than happy to have it.
Author Stephanie Sanders is a communications consultant and writes for a UK mobile phones site, offering all the latest phones and plans.
Today every one want to connect the new technology and reject the old technology,I think here you share a right information about the recycling cell phones.
I wrote about several websites to help you get rid of old cell phones and other electronic devices, some pay, others just for recycling;
http://supermoneytips.com/?p=481
This is Great!! Recycling is beneficial in so many ways, most importantly to save the environment…recycle mobile phones is the most suitable way by which the unused old handsets can be put to certain good use..
Recycling your mobile phone is beneficial for the environment and your wallet too in mist cases. Nowadays mobile phone technology is developing so fast that most new devices are out of date within 18 months. So when you next upgrade your mobile phone have a look online to see what recycling companies are willing to offer you for your old mobile. There are lots around now so even better why not use a comparison site to find the top buyer for your mobile phone.
Lovely innovation.
Recycling in any form is a blessing, nothin better if it can be implemented in mobile phones.
Old is gold.
We should try following the recycling techniques more & more.