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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has joined up with numerous cell phone companies and retail stores to launch a campaign called “Recycle Your Cell Phone. It’s an Easy Call”. This campaign encourages and educates Americans to recycle or donate unwanted cell phones. Although there are a large amount of recycle programs, many consumers are not aware of them. This program aims to raise the public’s awareness about the opportunities available to them, and ultimately increasing the cell phone recycling rate for the country.
With only 10 percent of cell phones being recycled per year, this program will conserve valuable resources used to make cell phones and accessories like metals, copper and plastics. Not only will resources be preserved but greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced, natural resources will be conserved and vital material will be kept out of landfills. Not only can recycling cell phones benefit the environment and communities, but it also benefits people in need of a cell phone. Used cell phones are often sold for cheaper prices for people who cannot afford a full priced cell phone or they are donated to creditable charities.
Here are a few quick facts from the EPA to help rationalize how important cell phone recycling is:
- One million cell phones being recycled is equivalent to taking 33 cars off the road for an entire year.
- Enough energy could be saved to put electricity in more than 18,500 U.S. households by recycling 100 million cell phones.
After learning about all the positive things recycling your old cell phone can do I bet you’re wondering, “How do I take part in this program?” You can either drop your cell phone off or mail it in to all participating service providers or retailers.
These service providers and retailers include:
Drop Off
- AT&T
- Best Buy
- Office Depot
- Sony Ericsson
- Sprint
- Staples
- T-Mobile
- LG Electronics
- Verizon Wireless
Mail In
So the next time you retire your old cell phone for the next new technology, find a place to take to have it recycled. Your small device and extra thought for the environment can help people in need, communities around the country, and the environment as a whole. And remember, “Recycle Your Cell Phone. It’s an Easy Call.”
