Your Guide to Environmentally Friendly Disposal of Cell Phones

Posted by Lisa Carey

Because cell phones contain many chemicals such as arsenic, antimony, beryllium, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel and zinc, safe disposal of them is necessary to protect the environment and our health from a build-up of these toxins.
But how can we know where to go and what can be gained by properly disposing of our used cell phones?

There are approximately 256 million cell phone users in the United States alone. The majority of people, probably much like my family purchase a new cell phone about every two years (right around the time we get rebate and incentive offers from our cell phone carrier). Cell phones are also quite commonly purchased for events like birthdays, graduations, going off to college and many other milestone events or simply to make us feel safer or our jobs that much easier. As a result, there is rarely anywhere you go that people do not have a cell phone, but that also makes for a great deal of electronic and chemical waste.
Because cell phones contain many chemicals such as arsenic, antimony, beryllium, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel and zinc, safe disposal of them is necessary to protect the environment and our health from a build-up of these toxins, many of which have been associated with cancer and neurological disorders, just to name a few. These are considered “persistent” toxins, which are toxins that take remain in the environment for long periods of time. Other environmental dangers associated with inappropriate disposal of cell phones is due to the electromagnetic radiation and electronic composition. In order to avoid these environmental hazards it is important to choose from the many different environmentally friendly organizations and opportunities available for correct cell phone disposal.
Get Green Going Green and Dispose of Your Cell Phone
One method of disposing of your cellular phone that is green and may even get you some green is to sell it. There are several sites available to assist you with earning cash back for your cellular phone, and for a list of these services read our “Electronics Trash for Cash and It’s Good for the Environment ” article for several options for getting rid of your used cell phone.
Another program is Cell for Cash, a program that may pay you for your used cell phone, batteries or accessories. If your phone is not on their list of accepted donations, they will still collect it from your and donate it to 911 Cell Bank, used to help victims of violence.
Give Green, Go Green and Dispose of Your Cell Phone
There are many charitable organizations available through national, state and local efforts that can take your used cell phone and use it to help them raise money or to help others that are in need.
Charity Guide can help you find resources for donating your used mobile phone.
The Call to Collect Campaign is used to collect cell phones and provide them to domestic violence victims.
CollectiveGood Mobile Phone Recycling: Stop by a local Staples or Fed Ex/Kinko’s store to drop off your used cellular phone, PDA or pager. Choose from among the charities available and a donation will be made in your name. The used phone is then reused to help others and you get a donation letter – perfect for use when doing your taxes.
Other charitable organizations that will either property dispose of your cell phone or recycle it for use by others includes Cell Phones for Soldiers, Charitable Recycling Program, the American Cell Phone Drive (allows you to choose which local organization you wish the donation to benefit), and Recycling for Charities.
Unsure if a charity is legitimate or using fund the way you want them too? Check our Charity Navigator to see how your charity of choice rates.
Form Your Own Alliance to Dispose of Your Cell Phone
The Wireless Alliance is a cellular phone recycling organization; consumers can either dispose of their used cellular phone or purchase a refurbished one. This organization works with a variety of organizations and services such as wireless carriers, recyclers and non-profit organizations for the collection and safe refurbishing and resell or safe disposal of used cell phones. According to their website “All equipment is repurposed in a zero waste, environmentally-conscious manner. Since 2001, The Wireless Alliance has reclaimed over 500 tons of wireless equipment from landfills, contributing to a cleaner and safer environment.” For Recycling Program Support – Please Call (866) 366-5791
Go Green and Use Your Cell Phone Carrier/Provider to Dispose of Your Used Cell Phone
Verizon: Verizon collects used cell phones and distributes them to victims of domestic violence through their Wireless HopeLine program. Through this program it helps these victims be able to contact the police department, and these donations are used to help support non-profit domestic violence support groups. Phones can be dropped off at your Verizon center stores.
Sprint/Nextel offers two programs for eco-friendly disposal of your cell phone. Buyback is a program where they will pay you a sum to buy back your used cellular phone or PDA as long as they are Sprint or Nextel models. This program for provides you with a Sprint account credit.
If you phone is not eligible for the buyback program, anyone can use the Spring Project Connect. This program accepts all used cell phones, accessories and batteries. All the proceeds from this donation are used to keep children safer online though the Sprint 4NetSafety Program in partnership with the Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the NEA Health Information Network. To find out more contact your local Sprint store or visit Sprint online.
Rechargeable Batteries from Cell Phones Need Disposal Too
The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to recycling, reusing and properly disposing of rechargeable batteries and used cell phones. You simply visit their website and type in your zip code to find a collection center near you.
While it is very important to dispose of your cellular phone in an environmentally sound manner, it is just as important to make sure your “good deed” goes unpunished. Make sure you erase all notes, text messages, photos, cell phone numbers, calendars, recordings and contacts from your phone before donating or selling it. Most users’ manuals will instruct you how to do so. For more information on how stored information can be stolen and used for identity theft read, “Going Green with Your Old Computer; Not Your Identity,” for information on how to carefully dispose of your electronic equipment without having it come back to haunt you.
Choose from giving your used mobile phone to a friend or family member (especially your teenager who will probably lose it anyway) to making money or donating to a charity as among the many alternatives to safely dispose of your mobile phone. But whatever choice you make, make sure it helps the environment and who knows maybe it will help you or someone else too.
Lastly, look to the future of cell phones. Motorola has created the first 100% recyclable carbon neutral cell phone, The Renew. Recently revealed at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show, this cell phone is made from recycled plastic bottles and the phone is recyclable for the rest of it’s life. While the phone may be basic in nature and not have all the bells and whistles of current cell phones, Blackberry’s and PDA’s at least it is a step in the green direction, as Motorola even includes a postage paid envelope for returning your old phone.

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