If you are someone new in the way of living sustainably, you must have been curious about the new trend of cell phone recycling. Do you want to know more about this? If your answer is a YES, then you have reached the right place.
People are trying to make a difference in the way of their lifestyle. And this is mostly because of the increase in awareness when it comes to the condition of the earth. We all know how the planet is getting destroyed slowly and steadily. The climate crisis and other negative impacts of environmental pollution are some of the things that are being battled these days.
One of the most recent ways of handling the same is through the sustainable approach that people are taking towards dealing with electronic gadgets is cell phone recycling.
If that is something that you have been planning to do, then you have reached the right place. Keep reading this blog till the end to learn more about the same…
What Is Cell Phone Recycling?
You must have heard about waste management. Well, cell phone recycling is a form of waste management. As the number of smartphone users in this world is growing rapidly every day, it is essential that people are able to recycle the old ones that are no longer in use.
There was an increase in the purchase of cell phones by 6% in the year 2021 as per the reports stated by Gartner. However, while there is a bloom in the manufacturing and production of cell phones, there is one thing that most people often tend to forget. And that is the large-scale production of electronic waste.
The average life span of smartphones in America is not more than two and a half years, as per statistics. But after that, they are thrown away as waste. Like the majority of electrical devices, cell phones contain toxic substances like lead, nickel, mercury, and chromium that can harm humans, wildlife, and the environment if disposed of in landfills. And that is the reason why cell phone recycling is so important.
Keep reading this blog till the end to learn a little more about this process of mobile recycling…
Why Should You Recycle Your Phone?
According to sources, “cell phones have the highest recycling market of any electronic material.” In this method, the materials that are used to make the mobile phones are retrieved so that they can be used in making new cell phones.
Now the question comes to why you should try to recycle your phone. Well, I have a logical explanation to that. And if you are someone who is pro sustainability, then you might agree with what I have in store for you!
As I have already mentioned, cell phones and their parts are a container for toxic elements and minerals like nickel, chromium, lithium, and more. However, on top of these, most of the parts of smartphones are made up of plastic. These parts include the case of the phone as well as the smaller components. Thus, disposing them off to landfills can not only damage the quality of the land, but also increase plastic pollution.
In a 2019 investigation of metals in disposed of telephones, specialists noticed a “statistically significant increase” in the harmful substance of cell phones someplace in the range of 2006 and 2015, with the biggest cancer-causing risk presented by nickel, lead, and beryllium.
As per the study, “Nickel contributed the largest risk for carcinogens in mobile phones, but the contributions of lead and beryllium were also notable. Silver, zinc and copper contents were associated with non-cancer health risks.” Thus, in order to ensure that all these issues are tacked efficiently, it is very important that you are taking part in the process of cell phone recycling.
Best Places To Know: How To Recycle Old Cell Phones?
Are you up for recycling your old cell phones? If yes then it is time for you to learn about the places where you can get them recycled. Heym, you do not have to search anymore as I have got you covered!
Here are the best places that can help you recycle your smartphones. Take a look at these:
1. Gazelle
The first place on the list of the best places to recycle your smartphone is Gazelle. It is one of the most well-liked options for trading in old cell phones. The company has offices in Texas and Louisville, Kentucky, in addition to its headquarters in Boston.
You can easily get an offer by entering the model, brand, and carrier of your phone, as well as its shape. After Gazelle verifies that it is indeed worth what you claim, you will receive a check or a gift card to Amazon.com or PayPal in addition to the free shipping.
2. EcoATM
EcoATM is a popular automated kiosk that pays you cash for your unused smartphones and tablets. It is made by the same people who make CoinStar, so you can find them at grocery store chains’ checkout lines.
It pays between a few dollars and a few hundred dollars in exchange for devices of any age or condition. EcoATM ensures that the phones are recycled or given a second life by working with R2 certified e-waste reclamation facilities.
3. Call2Recycle
The next platform on the list is Call2Recycle. In the United States and Canada, this is a free recycling program for cell phones and batteries.
It has collection boxes with shipping permits that can be placed anywhere, making mailing them simple. If there are a lot of recyclables, Call2Recycle also offers bulk shipping to the people who are interested to use their platform.
4. Best Buy
In the United States, Best Buy offers free in-store recycling as well as recycling kiosks. The typical daily limit is three items per family from the company. From that point, Best Purchase works with reusing organizations to ensure the telephones and other gadgets don’t wind up in landfills.
5. Eco-Cell
The last one on the list of the best places that helps you recycle your old smartphones is Eco-Cell. This is a company that recycles electronic waste in Louisville, Kentucky. It collaborates with organizations like the Jane Goodall Institute and other non-profits.
The phones that are collected are transported to Eco-Cell in Louisville via bins that can be found in coffee shops and other establishments across the nation. They resell the phones and return a portion of the proceeds to the owner if they can be reused. The phones are recycled if they cannot be used again, and the owner is compensated for the value of the recycled materials.
Wrapping It Up!
The majority of cell phones are made of plastic and precious metals that can be recycled to save energy and resources that would otherwise be needed to mine or manufacture them. These materials have the potential to pollute the air, soil, and drinking water when dumped in a landfill. And that is the reason you must choose to recycle your cell phones.
In case you were searching for answers related to cell phone recycling, I hope that this article has been of help to you. If there are any other queries related to the same feel free to let me know.
All that you need to do is scroll down till you reach the bottom of the page. Then leave your doubts and queries in the comment box below. And I will be three to answer them all for you.
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