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Which are the Benefits of Recycling Your Old Mobile Phone?

Environmental and Green LivingJanuary 21, 2011Written by Sarah Smooth563 views

It's obvious the device you might have in your wallet will end up outdated, that's simply technology and the world we live in. If you're an on-the-go, technically savvy person, it's likely you will need upgrading sooner or later, it's expected and manufacturers rely on it. Once you have made that decision, what in case you do together with your old phone? Toss it in the trash; make it for anybody you like? Most of us realize that throwing last year's phone inside the trash is detrimental for the environment, allowing toxic chemicals to leech to the soil, so let's focus on alternative methods to recycle. Data tells us the average price of an old phone is just about $30, which collectively adds up to huge amount of money (actually on the billion) in dumped products. What can be done from it and will this be converted to money? With that much money either relaxing in drawers or serving as expensive paperweights, ingenuity will certainly find a way to create revenue and that's precisely what happened. Multiple companies are creating recycling centers focusing on obtaining old phones (and could pay for yours), then either sell the garbage, utilize the parts to correct other phones or increase the risk for discarded phone offered to consumers searching for a particular model. An industry has sprung from this and their primary job is always to recycle discarded cellphones for charity. Naturally the charity and company are experiencing revenue, so it's a win/win situation. Buyers (those with outdated phones) can contribute their phones to your choice of charities (possibly be given a tax write off), which delivers not only revenue but social value too. Perhaps that is news, or simply you're already aware of the process. There are multiple websites designed to connect those with old phones with companies who wish to get them. The process is easy, you'll enter in the model and make, click the submit button, and be offered the worthiness of the old phone. Now you'll decide if you want to proceed, if no, you're not obliged to keep; if yes the company will send a pre-addressed (often prepaid) package utilized to submit your old phone. Once received and processed, your chosen payment (often a business check) will be sent to your address, total time approximately 30 days. Other possibilities include auctioning your pre-owned phone on eBay (or other sites); placing an advert on Craigslist, etc. While those are legitimate options, there isn't any promise of the sale; while recycling companies (assuming your phone is in working condition) assures a specific amount of cash. If you are doing opt the auction route, having the original packaging along with a scratch free phone will boost the value. Irrespective of your choice, recycling, auction, or donating to charity, you'll find there are a great number of choices enabling you to develop money, whilst being helpful for the environment.

Its time we thought about taking care of out planet. There is no way we will get another one. Its important to realise that the damage we're inflicting, for the most part, cannot be repaired.

About the Author

Sarah is an environmental activist who specialises in the recycling of new technologies and chemicals, an environmental and time graduate in the calss of 2007.