Americans Junk Millions of Used Cellphones
Only about 40 percent of Americans recycle or repurpose their old cellphones, according to a new survey. That might be discouraging news to anyone who wants to keep our growing pile of electronics junk out of landfills. How can we hope to get other gadgets recycled that are heavier and more difficult to handle than cellphones, perhaps the easiest of electronics to keep out of the trash?
Most wireless carriers will take old handsets. Charities will pay for shipping to get the phones. Recycling bins for used cellphones are often available at libraries, schools, and malls.
Nonetheless, 10 percent of us chuck millions of handsets and their toxic waste into the trash, according to the survey from market tracker iSuppli. More than 35 percent shove them into a drawer, where they're no good to anyone. "All too often, those handsets end up in the trash when spring cleaning comes," says iSuppli's Greg Sheppard.
Tags: cellphones | technology | pollution
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eVERYTHING IS lies ALL lies
kINDA REMINDS YOU OF AUSTIN POWERS AND THE NAZI WOMEN,,,,WELL IT'S SAD BUT TRUE ....nothing is really go green in this country..However if I had a machine that could transform BS inot pure energy ....MY GOD there would be enough BS in Washington DC to power the SUN for 100 years.
cell phones
If some people were not so picky about having the newest and coolest phone, and keep it for a long time, this would not be such a huge problem. Too many people try to keep up, not just with cellphones, with about everything, I went to a Goodwill store the other day, it is jam packed with clothing that looks almost new!
cell phones
As a frugal individual, I make minimal use of my cell phone, and buy one with an inexpensive prepaid plan (about $25 for three months usage). On average, the batteries are good for about two years of recharging. The problem is that it costs $40 to replace a battery, but only $20 to buy a new phone including the new battery. If I donate the phone to a charity for recycling, it will cost them more to replace the battery than the phone is worth.
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