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Research suggests that there are over 20 million potentially toxic redundant mobile phones in the UK, making up one to two percent of electronic waste. People in the UK change their phone on average every 12 months. As more and more new phones come on the market this number is set to grow.
Old mobile phones don’t need to end up in a landfill site. There are many ways in which you can recycle your old mobile phone and be environmentally friendly at the same time. Some of these schemes can even earn you cash, or money for your favourite charity!
Some mobile phones and their accessories contain substances that are amongst the 10 most dangerous known to man including Cadmium, Rhodium, Palladium, Beryllium and Lead Solder. Simply throwing out unwanted or old mobile phones is harmful for the environment as there is the potential for considerable toxic contamination caused by these substances leaking into the surrounding soil.
There are a number of ways in which you can recycle your old mobile phone, rather than have it gather dust, or worse, end up in a landfill site.
Most of the big high-street retailers offer ‘take-back’ schemes where you can drop your phone off in store or in a special envelope. Most phones get re-conditioned and used in third world countries. All retailers offer different recycling schemes so please check with the retailer that you are happy with their scheme before you leave your phone with them.
Most of the bigger charities offer a phone recycling scheme. They earn money for every phone they collect and you can be happy that you have donated to a good cause. Each charity’s scheme is different. Some phones will be recycled for parts and others will be reconditioned for use in third world countries. Please do check that you are happy with a charity’s scheme before you leave your phone with them.
There are many of these on the web and they will pay you for your mobile phone, depending on the age, condition and model of phone. You will receive a cheque or money in your bank account. Some ‘phone-buyer’ companies give you the option to donate a percentage of your phone’s value to a charity of your choice. Online ‘phone-buyer’ companies include:
Either to a friend or on eBay. eBay has a thriving mobile phone business and you could earn yourself good money by selling your phone rather than throwing it away or leaving it in a drawer. Even if you don’t want the cash, you could donate it to your favourite charity.
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