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Recycle Cell Phones
Technological advancements providing users with
improved
reception through integrated antenna systems, reduced size and
weight of cell phones, along with numerous feature sets, and storage
improvements have caused the bulk of cellular phone users and enthusiasts to
upgrade to new and improved handsets. The low cost of cell phones and the
added technological improvements mean that the majority of cellular phone
users are on their 2nd or 3rd generation hand set.
Environmental
Concerns
What many don't realize is that in many cases, the materials
used
to construct cell phones are toxic. Toxic elements found in many of today's
cell phones can include arsenic, in semi-conductors and lead in the solder
material. While the materials in a single phone are minimal consider the
number of discarded cell phones in the relatively short time
the technology has been available. The placement of these devices in
landfills will cause long lasting damage and harm to the
environment.
Recycling aged wireless equipment is a sensible
alternative.
Valuable materials can be recovered from used
wireless devices in a number of different ways. In some cases, certain
components may be separated by manual or simple mechanical means. The
components can often be reused or melted down for alternative
uses.
Cell Phone Disposal - What Options Exist?
Cell Phone Disposal -
What Options Exist? The cell phone
industry, understanding concerns related
to the disposal of
cell phones and PDAs have created alternatives to
both
refurbish and recycle the materials in older style
cellular
phones.
Wireless Recycling - http://www.wirelessrecycling.com
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ReCellular Inc. is the largest recycler and reseller of used
wireless
phones and accessories in the wireless industry. A
pioneer in charitable
recycling arrangements, ReCellular has
well-established partnerships with
Easter Seals, the March of Dimes, and National Organization on Disability,
Goodwill
Industries, and The Body Shop. In addition, over 2,000 grassroots
organizations from Boy Scout troops to religious
organizations around the
country work to collect wireless phones to support their philanthropic
efforts. Charities can raise funds by increasing community awareness and
acting as a wireless collection center.
Wireless Foundation -
http://www.wirelessfoundation.org/DonateaPhone/index.cfm
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Wireless Foundation refurbishes and provides cell phones to
victims of
domestic violence so that they can be used in the event of an emergency. The
Call To Protect campaign also
collects wireless phones to benefit victims of
domestic violence. Proceeds from the sale of phones help fund agencies
that fight domestic violence and are used to support educational efforts of
the Wireless Foundation. Other phones are refurbished and become lifelines
for domestic violence victims when faced with an
emergency situation.
Recycle Wireless Phones -
http://www.recyclewirelessphones.com
- Cellular
Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA*) and
its
member companies are committed to the goal of sustainable
development
and the environmentally sound management of
their wireless products at
end-of-life. Through its Wireless.. . . The New Recyclable program, CTIA is
educating the public on the options available for properly recycling
used wireless devices. The program seeks to promote the collection of used
wireless devices and ensure that collected wireless products will be managed
properly. The site provides a directory of collection options.
http://www.attwireless.com/our_company/cares/recycle_progra
AT&T
Wireless - m.jhtml - Through the AT&T Wireless Reuse & Recycle
program, consumers are invited to bring unwanted
wireless phones, accessories
and batteries (regardless of the manufacturer or carrier) to an AT&T
Wireless retail store for recycling. AT&T Wireless is the first
wireless carrier to partner with Keep America Beautiful, a
nationally recognized nonprofit organization that focuses on waste impact
minimization, litter prevention, beautification, community improvement and
improvement of public places. Proceeds from the recycling of wireless phones,
batteries and accessories are donated to Keep America
Beautiful.
Call2Recycle - http://www.call2recycle.org/ -
RBRC's
Call2RecycleT program collects used cellular phones to benefit the
environment and charitable organizations. With the help of consumers and
30,000 participating retail locations, RBRC's do their part in helping to
keep cell phones out of the landfills.
HopeLine - http://www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline
- The
HopeLine phone recycling program is an exclusive program that uses
wireless services and equipment to assist victims in emergency domestic
violence situations. HopeLine collects
wireless phones that are no longer
being used. The used phones are either refurbished and recycled or sold. With
the funds raised from the sale of the refurbished phones, Verizon Wireless
purchases wireless phones and donates airtime to victims of domestic violence
through human services and law enforcement agencies.
About the
Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for NotePage, Inc.
http://www.notepage.net a company
specializing in
alphanumeric paging, SMS and wireless messaging
software solutions. Other sites by Sharon can be found at http://www.softwaremarketingresource.com
, and http://www.small-business-software.net
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