What can you do with your old mobile

You may have resisted the urge to buy the iphone but Christmas is approaching and phone manufacturers are launching new phones every week so, you might start thinking it is a good time to get a new mobile phone.

But what are you going to do with the old one.

The important thing to remember is DO NOT BIN IT. Mobile phones are made up of a host of chemicals that once they start to break down are extremely hazardous to the environment. No one wants old mobile sitting around in landfill for years to come.

It is estimated that less than 20% of all unused mobile phones in the UK are currently recycled and that about 90 million phones are hiding in drawers and cupboards across the UK.

Under the new Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (yes you guessed it is called WEEE) Directive the user (that’s you) has a duty of care to dispose of the mobile responsibly.

So what can you do with your old mobile?

1. Pass it on to someone who wants a mobile. This is one of the greenest options since it means that the resources used up to make the phone are being used to the fullest and that a new phone is not having to be manufactured.

2. Ask the retailer to take the old product back. All mobile phone shops should have a recycling facility. For example, the Carphone Warehouse has a scheme where it takes in the phone for recycling and also donates £10 to its charity appeal.

3. Take it to your local civic amenities site.

4. Give it to charity. For example:

Oxfam’s Bring Bring mobile recycling service has raised more than £530,000 by recycling mobiles and at the same time has ensured over 37,500 kilos of electronic waste has been diverted from landfill. The easiest way to donate you mobile is to take it to your nearest Oxfam shop. They also offer a collection service if you have over 20 mobile phone to donate.

Chances are your favourite charity is doing something similar.

Recycool – offers a different approach. Sign your school up to this scheme and for every phone collected it will donate money to the school and plant trees.

5. Sell it on. Services like TalkGreener offer to buy your phone, recycle it and donate money to charity.

What happens to the phones you donate

Phones that work usually end up in the developing world helping to improve communication services.
Phones that no longer function are stripped of valuable chemical and parts that can be reused.
Any material that can not be recycled is disposed of properly in a way that will not contribute to pollution.

Or of course you could be the greenest of all and just keep the mobile you have – after all it has served you well this far.

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