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Recycle your old cellphoneGetting a new cellphone this holiday? You can recycle your old one, and get money to spend at terrapass.com at the same time.You may not be so excited about your old cellphone anymore, but chances are that somebody else will be. Better still, you might even get paid for it. For example, a Motorola Razr V3 is worth $21. How this helps Recycling your old phone keeps it and its (likely toxic) battery out of the landfill. Your phone also contains precious metals including copper and silver. If these are recycled it lessens the demand for mining new metals. The Environmental Protection Agency says that recycling a million phones will reduce greenhouse gases by the same amount as taking 1,368 cars off the road for a year. More information
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While I applaud folks recycling cell phones, this is still a ticking time bomb. Cell phones have saturated the market and it is a safe bet for every cell phone we buy there is a cell phone that is hitting a landfill. Most of the components of cell phones (and pretty much any electronics) are not easily 'recycled'. Most wind up overseas in toxic graveyards.
However, cell phones are far worse than most electronic equipment because people swap them out annually. Sure, it might have some value when you buy a new one, but you are still contributing one more phone to the environment by doing so.
I fully admit I am hypocritical on this front as I carry around a two year old BlackBerry for my employer. It is very unclear what the solution is to this mess, and making certain your old one is recycled is a good start. But, we all need to be aware that it is only a start and we need to find a long term solution to our electronics garbage.
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I've been pretty successful opting out of the every-two-year upgrade. (The cell phone companies hate this; they do NOT want you to keep your old phone.) I carried my last phone for over four years, and--I think due to my lackadaisical attitude about charging--its original battery would still hold a charge for at least a couple days of normal use, but the hinge was breaking. I replaced it by adopting my husband's 2yo cell phone when he had to get a different one for work; I had to replace the battery shortly after I got it, but I'm now planning to carry it until it falls apart or stops working.
It's always seemed really goofy to me to switch out phones every year or two.
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Hey, the Creagination blog just had a cool clip about recycling. I don't know, recycling... whatever. Your post reminded me about it.
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I would like to purchase a used cellphone-no need for me to have the newest model. Can anyone recommend reliable sites? What do I look for in buying used? Will minutes that I buy from any company work on any phone? What is the life of a cellphone battery?
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by Ken on January 18, 2009 9:15 AM
Hy Cheryl:
I have a 2008 flip-top cell by Virgin Mobile, still in its original box. Works fine, except in my windowless basement office in downtown DC. Be glad to send it to you for the cost of postage. Charger and manual included.
Ken
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Another terrific option for "old" cell phones is this site, started by two kids several years ago.
http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/index.html
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