Did You Know?
Cell phones are one of the fastest growing forms of electronic waste. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the average cell phone life span is about 18 months. They are discarded at an alarming rate of more than 125 million phones per year, resulting in more than 65,000 tons of waste.
- Over 43% of American cell phone users replace their cell phone approximately every two years and roughly 20% replace their cell phone every year.
- Americans use an average of six wireless products; and over 16% of consumers own and use ten or more wireless products.
- Refurbishment and reuse of cell phones keeps them out of U.S. incinerators and landfills. Many of the refurbished cell phones are sold abroad. The disposal methods for cell phones sold abroad and eventually discarded were not investigated for this web page.
Disposal Information
You can recycle rechargeable batteries, which are commonly found in cellular and cordless phones, cordless power tools, laptop computers, camcorders, digital cameras, and PDA's. Visit the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation's Call2Recycle website or call 1-877-2RECYCLE for a list of drop-off sites: for example, Office Depot, Radio Shack and Target stores.
In addition to the recycling opportunities listed on the electronics page, there is a variety
of options to refurbish, reuse and recycle cell phones.
The programs listed below claim to recover used cell phones, then either refurbish and resell or recycle them.
Charitable programs and many retail programs donate the proceeds to charities.
BEFORE DONATING OR RECYCLING YOUR PHONE:
- Remove personal data (such as phone numbers and emails)
- Deactivate service
- Fully discharge the battery
- Turn the power off
LOCAL GOVERNMENT OPTIONS
Some counties accept cell phones for recycling. Contact your county for more information. Cell phones may also be accepted for recycling on municipal recycling drop-off days and at community clean-up events. Call your municipal recycling coordinator for information about seasonal events.CHARITABLE PROGRAMS
Donation opportunities for cell phones are common. The Wireless Foundation coordinates national programs that collect cell phones to help American communities. The Wireless Foundation was established by the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association. To find cell phone donation programs, visit www.wirelessfoundation.org or search the Internet using the key words "cell phone donation".MANUFACTURER PROGRAMS
Kyocera
Kyocera offers a free mail-in recycling service for used Kyocera brand cell phones.
Motorola
Motorola offers a mail-in recycling service for any brand of cell
phone. Visit the web site to print a free postage-paid label.
Nokia
Nokia provides a free mail-in recycling service. Visit the website,
enter your information, and print a free postage-paid label. Phones
from most manufacturers are accepted.
RETAILER PROGRAMS
Best Buy
All Best Buy stores have drop boxes in their entryways for cell phones, inkjet cartridges, and rechargeable batteries.
Call2RecycleTM
This national program, operated by the Rechargeable Battery Recycling
Corporation, collects used cell phones and rechargeable batteries to
benefit the environment and various charitable organizations. Visit the
web site for a list of drop-off locations in your area. Office Depot,
Radio Shack and Target are three of the many retailers working with
Call2RecycleTM.
Cingular
Cingular customers may turn in their old phones at Cingular retail
locations when purchasing a new one. Online Cingular customers are sent
instructions and a postage-paid label for sending in their old phone.
All phones returned to Cingular are either recycled or refurbished.
Sprint
The Sprint Buyback Program allows customers to recycle their old phone for account credit,
or donate their phone to the Sprint PROJECT CONNECT® program, which donates to community organizations.
T-Mobile
T-Mobile's recycling program, "Give More, Get More," allows people to drop off any make and model of wireless phones,
batteries, PDAs and accessories at any T-Mobile store. The products are either recycled or refurbished and 100% of the net
proceeds go to charity.
Verizon
Verizon's HopeLine(SM) collects cell phones and equipment from any service provider, and puts them to work to assist victims of
domestic violence. Cell phones may be returned to any Verizon retailer or sent in by mail.
REDEMPTION PROGRAMS
Websites such as RIP Mobile, Cell for Cash and OldCellPhone.com will pay for your old cell phone in cash or redeemable points. Prices vary according to the value of your phone. You provide the phone brand and model, register, and ship your phone to the company.
This information is provided as a public service and is not intended to
be an endorsement of any business, organization or service.
For more information on proper disposal and recycling of cell phones, contact your county.
Anoka County
Carver County
Dakota County
Hennepin County
Ramsey County
Washington County
