On average, Americans change cell phones every 18 months, whether there is something wrong with it or not. About 40% of cell phones get recycled or repurposed, which is good… but not enough. That means that 60% of our cell phones end up in a landfill as electronic junk, along with their batteries and various handsets and chargers, leaking lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic among others.

Where can you recycle or repurpose your old cellular? You actually have many options:

1/ Check with your wireless carrier: many of them offer recycling services. Credo Mobile, the only green cell phone company in the US, will provide you with a prepaid shipping label when you switch to them.  

2/ CollectiveGood Mobile Phone Recycling program: they will give your cell phone to a charity of your choice, but be aware that the tax-deductible shipping fees will be on you.  However, some charities will pay for shipping to get your cell phone.

3/ Drop it off at participating libraries, schools, malls and stores (Staples is one of them).

Whichever option you choose, make sure to delete any personal information (phone numbers, calendar events, birthdays, photos, etc) and set your phone back to factory settings (consult your phone’s manual).  Also, don’t forget to take your SIM card out before disposing of the phone. This information may otherwise be retrievable and retrieved.

For interesting tidbits about cell phones around the world, go to theglobalist.com