[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/EW-04-02-12-Cell-Phone-Recycling.mp3|titles=EW 04-02-12 Cell Phone Recycling]
18 months. That’s the average lifespan for a cell phone in the US. Most carriers let customers upgrade their phones after a year and a half, and most customers opt to do it. The bulk of discarded cell phones end up mixed in with household garbage. Less than 10% are recycled.
The 130 million cell phones that are dump-bound each year contribute to the ‘wireless waste stream.’ Phones contain a number of metals that can be recycled, among them gold, silver, and copper. They also contain lead, arsenic, cadmium, antimony, and zinc— metals that can leach from landfills and pose problems when they are incinerated.
This is disturbing news because exposure to these toxins has been linked with cancer and neurological disorders, especially in children.
The EPA launched National Cell Phone Recycling Week to encourage citizens to keep cell phones out of garbage cans. And by the EPA’s estimates, if Americans recycled 100 million cell phones, enough energy would be saved to power nearly 19,000 homes for a year.
A number of charities accept cell phones, such as ‘Cell Phones for Soldiers’ which uses proceeds from recycling phones to buy calling cards for soldiers on active duty or Hope Phones which funds global healthcare. Or you can consult with EcoSquid.com to find a recycling company near you. If your phone is a newer model, some will even pay you for your device.
A tip: recycle your old phone promptly to extend its useful life.
Photo, taken on December 23, 2011 using an Olympus E-P2, courtesy of Becky Stern via Flickr.