Most Cell Phones Still End Up In Landfills, Polluting the Environment
Yesterday, the New York Times Magazine ran a fairly comprehensive piece on the life cycle and environmental impact of mobile phones. The story detailed how many phones are reused, how many others are broken down and "mined" for useful metals such as silver and gold, and how still others – most others, in fact – end up in heaps of discarded electronics, left to leach often dangerous ingredients into the earth, water supply, kids' blood streams, etc.
Some businesses and watchdog groups are doing their darnedest to offset this problem, or at least delay the inevitable discarding of the dead phone, but the report overall is a sobering one.
The main point raised: Despite our love affair and attachment to our mobile phones, we still use, discard and then buy new ones at an alarming rate, with little regard for the environmental impact.
Such eco-carelessness isn't limited to mobile phones and e-waste is not a new issue to the consumer electronics industry. But while mobile phones are small compared to old CRT TVs and computer monitors, they are in use everywhere. In some African nations, where landlines are difficult to build and maintain, mobile phones are the only way for someone to have reliable communications.
As the reporter notes, "There is no heaven for cellphones."
From The New York Times.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
joe @ Jan 14th 2008 11:09PM
And to think that the eco guys think everybody will make the time to dispose of flourescent lights if they don't do that for cell or other items what makes them think that they will do that now for the lights they will force us to use
Drock @ Jan 15th 2008 2:32AM
I have space to recycle Anyone wants to gather them up and send em to me I am located near boston.
Drock @ Jan 15th 2008 2:34AM
My email address for anyone wants info Deritch1@aolcom gather them ill take em for free.
Chris @ Jan 15th 2008 8:33AM
Sprint/nextel provides free recycling of old phones. All you have to do is drop it off to a sprint location and they will take care of it for you. It also benefits education.
Debora Benacchio @ Jan 22nd 2008 1:32AM
I believe there are other companies that have a list of items with their model numbers, if your camera, cell phone etc is on the list, they will tell you how much they will pay for it, They then send you a postage paid envelope to be used to put all the items you are sending.
When they receive the items you will receive an email with a tracking # so that you can follow your equipment processd, when all the items are determined to be the same as you described, they will send you a check. I have used them many times and have never had a problem. http://www.cellforcash.com/index.asp
Alice @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:56PM
Liberty Tax Service throughout the country collects old/used cell phones. For every cell phone kept out of the landfills a 100 minute calling card is given to a soldier overseas so they can call their loved ones back home. This is a wonderful program!
momma bear @ Jan 22nd 2008 7:40PM
Give your old cell phones to the Girl Scouts!! Also your old ink cartridges. They recycle them to make $$. Granted, it is not a lot but it helps.
Thanks.
Or.. you could give the phones to a women's shelter. They use them to keep women safe by programing them to only dial 911 when they need help. Contact your police station for more information. Most shelters do not want strangers around.
JBC @ Jun 20th 2008 12:26PM
ReCellular offers global cell phone recycling services: http://www.recellular.com/recycling including a free tool to erase personal data from your phone before you recycle it -- http://www.recellular.com/recycling/data_eraser/default.asp