How to Recycle a Cell Phone

You finally took the plunge and upgraded your cell phone. It was a good decision, but now you're probably wondering what to do with your old phone. Instead of having it collect dust at your house or go into some landfill, you can recycle it. It's quite easy to do, and some programs donate your old cell phone to charities.

• Locate a retailer or a cell phone service provider in your area that takes cell phone donations to be recycled. According o the U.S. Environmental Agency, you can drop off your old cell phone at AT&T, Best Buy, Office Depot, Sony Ericsson, Spring, Staples, T-Mobile, LG Electronics and Verizon Wireless. Check with your nearest retailer first to make sure.




• Some places allow you to mail in your old cell phone to be recycled. Check with Nokia, Sprint, Samsung, T-Mobile, Motorola, LG Electronics, Verizon Wireless or Sony Ericsson to find out the details.




• You can also go to the Earth911 website, enter your location and find retail stores near you that accept old cell phones and recycle them. Many Lowe's and Home Depot stores, for example, recycle cell phones.




• Try to sell your cell phone for cash. Cell For Cash is one place that may buy your old cell phone. Check this company's list to see whether your old cell phone qualifies. Cell for Cash refurbishes old cell phones and introduces them to underdeveloped countries. Other phones may be used as 911 emergency phones or are recycled, using the old components to make new phones.




• Before you get rid of your old cell phone, make sure that you ended your service agreement, removed your SIM card and manually deleted any information you have stored in the phone.