Answering recycling’s call
How many times have you changed cell phone plans? Or switched back and forth between prepaid phones and monthly plans? More often than not, each time you change over, you have to switch to a different phone. I know, it can mean having to take out installment loans and quick payday loans once in a while to keep up with the electronics shuffle. But having a phone is a requirement any more, isn’t it? It leaves you with the question of what to do with all the outdated phones, though. Keep them? Throw them away?
Companies like Cell For Cash (cellforcash.com) are a great option to both put money in your pocket and contribute toward a greener environment. You can trade them in for cash instead of cluttering your drawers or flinging more plastic into our landfills. It’s a simple three-step process:
- Find your phone in the list.
- Submit the manufacturer and model.
- Send the phone postage free and receive cash via check in 45-60 days.
Phones range in cash value from a few dollars to “well over $100,” depending upon capabilities and demand. If you like, you can also make cell phone donations at Cell For Cash. There are plenty of organizations that can use parts for 911 phones and others outside of Cell For Cash that donate phones to soldiers in the Middle East.
Recycling cell phones – still a ways to go
According to Telephony Online, Americans discard as many as 130 million cell phones each year. It’s shocking that less than five percent of those make it to the recycling phase. That means that an extra 65,000 tons of waste are loading down our landfills each year, says the EPA. The massive waste is just one more reason that we’re going to have to find other planets to colonize… soon.
Worldwide, there are many innovative recycling programs. In Australia, there’s even a save the koalas by donating used cell phones campaign. Then there are many other cell phone recycling initiatives with a charitable bent. Many vendors take the Cell For Cash route of sending prepaid postage envelopes to consumers’ homes as well as sweetening the deal with a money or donation offer.
But is it enough to get consumers in the green frame of mind? According to the handset manufacturing giant Nokia, they have conducted studies that have found that only three percent of users are recycling today. The reason given most often is that they didn’t know such programs existed.
“That is the elephant in the room,” said David Delcourt, COO of MakeMeSustainable.com. “With all the electronics we have, we have a poor recycling system for them.”
Is it still not convenient enough for people?
Apparently that is indeed the case. Delcourt and others believe that cell phone recycling, regardless of how many Web sites like Cell For Cash that pop up, will not truly take off until consumers can toss an old cell phone into the recycling bin they bring out to the curb. Waste management companies are not currently equipped for this in America, but they need to be. The longer they take to expand their recyclable collection services, the more plastic there will be to pollute the Earth and the more toxic fumes from burnt phones that will choke the skies and water table.
“The best way for someone to minimize their footprint is to re-use and recycle their phone,” Delcourt said. “The phone’s manufacturing impact has already been spent, the waste will be zero, and you’re avoiding purchasing a new phone that comes with its own footprint. There are companies that also pay you for your old phone, refurbish them and resell them in other countries. Sent in bulk, this likely still achieves a smaller footprint with transportation costs than manufacturing new phones.”
Another option for recycling
ReCellular is another company like Cell For Cash that takes donations of old cell phones. They take in as many as 25,000 phones per day. Of those, around 70 percent still have complete functionality. Once refurbished, ReCellular sends the phones to partner merchants like AT&T, Best Buy and Page Plus to sell as discount units. As a note of its relative success, ReCellular took in over 5.5 million phones last year, which amounts to about half of the total number of cell phones recycled that year.
VP Mike Newman estimates that a mere 10 percent of phones are recycled today. This amounts to about 14 million cell phones. Beyond that, he estimates that the average consumer has two to three unused phones just sitting around the house.
“There could be as many as one billion sitting in desks,” he said. “[Consumers] know they have value, but they aren’t spending the time or effort to seek out a recycling program.”
Do people know? Depends upon who you ask
Yet according to the CTIA, knowledge of mobile phone recycling is growing, but taking action isn’t. Their recent survey found that 84 percent are aware that mobile phones are recyclable, while 69 percent are aware of specific recycling programs. But too few people take advantage, said Public Affairs VP John Walls.
CTIA happens to have its own recycling program called “Wireless…The New Recyclable.” The campaign includes in-store phone take-back programs where consumers can get rid of both handsets and accessories at participating retailers.
Most big carriers are getting involved in green efforts, too. Recently, Cricket began a handset recycling program with ReCellular. Carriers like AT&T (Cell Phones for Soldiers) and Verizon Wireless (HopeLine) have their own green programs in place. AT&T claims it has recycled “more than 2.5 million devices in the past year.”
A nationwide plan is needed
The top handset manufacturers are also recycling-minded. Nokia provides “take-back points” in 85 countries, as well as prepaid return envelopes in 12 more. LG’s programs cover at least 45 countries. LG’s Text-to-Recycle program initiates an exchange via text messaging. But there still isn’t enough consumer participation.
The EPA’s Plug-In To eCycling program is voluntary today, but the proliferation of consumer electronics waste – cell phones included – is placing pressure on state and federal government. Evan Haines, an ICF International consultant for EnergyStar’s electronics programs, feels that there must be a national strategy in place. As an example, California has a statewide recycling program that prohibits throwing away phones. It also requires manufacturers to have their own recycling programs. Both of these steps are mandatory, and other states would do well to follow the example. The cost to the environment in space and chemical damage is too great to ignore.
“Mobile phones are a huge market, so even if something on the per-device basis is not that big, when you multiple it out to the whole market, there is a huge opportunity for effecting change,” Haines said. “If manufacturers are able to commit and put into place take-back programs, there is a chance to do more than they already are trying to do.”
Whether it’s through Cell For Cash or another program, do the right thing and recycle your old cell phones. Installment loans and quick payday loans may help you get your hands on a new smartphone, but they won’t recycle your old phones for you. That’s your responsibility… and eventually it may be the law.
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Great post. It is good to reuse and recycle mobile phones as these old stuffs are killing off our wildlife and polluting our land and waterways.
Nice post. It was helpful and informative. You have many great points on here.
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