Ways to Resell, Repurpose or Recycle Your Old Cell Phone

Electronic devices get upgraded so rapidly, it’s hard to keep up with the latest versions. Your cell phone is one electronic that you probably go through the fastest. You might have a computer for five years or more, but you might get a new cell phone every year or two, or less depending on how tech-savvy you want to remain. Many of us have old cell phones just sitting in a junk drawer at home. Maybe something about it isn’t working properly anymore, or we got a newer version when we redid our service contract.

So what should you do with your old cell phone? Don’t, under any circumstance, let it continue wasting away in some forgotten corner of your home. Your old cell phone could be donated to a very worthy cause and provide assistance to someone who needs it. There’s no shame is profiting off your old cell phone, either – you might be able to sell it for some extra cash. But if you prefer to just dispose of it, please don’t just throw it in the trash. There are many ways to recycle your phone so that its disposal doesn’t harm the environment. Here is a list of options for you to explore if you have an old cell phone.

Sell It

Your old cell phone, just like almost any electronic you don’t use anymore, could potentially earn you some cash. There are many different websites that will pay you for sending in your old phone. Most of them work the same way. You will go to the site and answer some questions about what kind of cell phone you have, what condition it’s in, and if you have any accessories for it. Then you will receive a quote. If you want to sell it, you can often print out a prepaid shipping label and send it in at no cost to you. When they receive it, the company will pay you, usually via check or PayPal. This is a very simple and quick way to earn some money. Some sites to try are Gazelle.com, Recyclemycellphone.org, and Cellforcash.com.

Donate it

Arguably the best thing you can do with your old cell phone is donate it for a cause. Your cell phone will go to help someone who needs it a lot more than you do. One of the most common causes for old cell phones is domestic violence prevention. Old cell phone are refurbished and given to women who are at risk. They are often programmed to only dial 911 so that in the event of an emergency she can call for help. Organizations that accept donated cell phones will often give you a prepaid shipping label or pick them up, and you can often get a tax write off. Some websites to try are Cellphonebank.org, Phones4charity.org, and Americancellphonedrive.org. These websites give your phone to other local places that need them most, for domestic violence prevention and other causes. You can also donate to Cellphonesforsoldiers.com, which will turn your cell phone into a prepaid device for soldiers to use to call their families when they’re overseas.

Recycle

If cell phones and their batteries are simply thrown into landfills, they are incredibly toxic for the environment. You should recycle your cell phone rather than put it in the trash. Most cell phone providers will recycle the phone for you – many times they will also send you a prepaid shipping envelope. Simply contact either your service provider or phone manufacturer to inquire about their recycling programs. In most cases you can just bring your cell phone into the store, and they will take it off your hands. Other places like Best Buy and Staples will also accept your old cell phones for recycling. Sometimes you can receive coupons or credits towards the purchase of your next cell phone by recycling your old one.

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Tagged as: Giving Back, recycle