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There is an eighty percent chance that you have a mobile phone if you are reading this article. Such is the popularity of handsets these days that they actually outnumber the amount of landline phones in many countries today. It is no longer uncommon to find someone with two, three or even four mobile handsets at once although it makes one wonder how such people answer more than one phone call should the handsets all ring at the same time.
A recent poll by Consumer Focus discovered that 68% of mobile phone users had kept one or more older phones, in good working order, that they no longer use. While it is unclear why that is the case, one cannot but wonder whether the mobile phone users who belong to this category either totally forget about their old handset or do not know how to dispose of it properly, in an environment-friendly manner.
There are three questions one should consider before throwing an old mobile phone into the bin.
1. Will it be of use to someone else?
2. Can I make money from it?
3. Will it harm the environment?
If the answer to the first question is Yes, then consider giving your unused handset to charity. There are many charitable organisations out there that will gratefully accept them from you and pass it on to someone who cannot afford one.
Alternatively, you can sell your old phones and make some extra cash from it. Simply look around and you will find a mobile phone shop that accepts second-hand handsets in exchange for cash or in some cases, a friend might be willing to pay for it.
Finally, you can search for companies that accept old phones for recycling rather than just throwing it away. This will help reduce the amount of electronic waste that is being generated annually from the millions of unused phones that are discarded. Whatever your decision, always remember to delete any personal data from the handset before taking any of the above actions.
Talking Point
What did you do with your old handset?
15 Comments
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computea
June 1, 2010 at 3:22 am
buying/selling used cellphone/old cellphone become a good business in development countries
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June 1, 2010 at 11:01 am
Some of us did not know that, old handset/unused phones can cause environmental hazer in our community. Therefore we have to dispose it in the right manner and not just throw it into bin.
Cosmos
June 3, 2010 at 2:56 am
I sold the old handset on eBay as it is on demand.
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buy fire pit
June 3, 2010 at 5:21 pm
It has proposed cutting the cost mobile phone firms can charge for connecting a call from another network from 4.3 pence per minute to 0.5p by 2015. Ofcom has also issued new rules to make it quicker and easier to switch mobile phone providers.
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June 3, 2010 at 5:49 pm
I think it’s definitely a good idea to sell it on ebay. You get part of your original investment back, you’re not damaging the environment (you’re actually recycling in a way), and you’re helping someone out with a cheaper cell phone option.
Admin
June 4, 2010 at 3:21 pm
I do like your formula and will some it up the following way:
old_phone + ebay = recycling.environment_friendly
🙂
Joe Tavel
June 6, 2010 at 3:21 am
I’ve taken the middle (lazy) road. I haven’t thrown out my old cell phones, but have just stashed them away until I find someone who wants them. I’m not a big cell phone user, so they’re pretty basic models – some are even those “pay as you go” Go Phones. A while ago a local school was collecting them, next time around I’ll hopefully be able to give them the phones.
LOL – one thing about being a very basic cell phone user – I don’t have any personal information, etc. on them.
Udegbunam Chukwudi
June 6, 2010 at 9:33 am
I don’t like selling my stuff. I’d rather give them away and that applies to mobile handsets as well. If the option of trading it in for a new one was available, I would most definitely prefer that choice 😉
Computers Smart Phones Technology
June 7, 2010 at 12:53 pm
Nice idea, if I can make money from my old cell phone. I think I have 2 old phones that I can used to get a small new phone or part exchange for a nice phone.
cosmeticden
June 30, 2010 at 1:02 pm
Thanks for sharing, really like your view. Waiting for some more great articles like this from you in the coming days.
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July 3, 2010 at 5:08 pm
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Cfm
May 28, 2011 at 5:59 pm
Sell your phone to a dedicated company like Mazuma. They’ll give you a good rate for your phone and even if your phone isn’t worth money, it’ll still be worth sending them your phone freepost as they’ll recycle it properly (your phone contains alot of harmful chemicals)
Inchirieri garsoniere
June 10, 2011 at 9:34 am
You are right, I had some older phones that is recycle to a mobile phone company in my city. I have not get a lot of money, but still is a good deal.
Darin
June 28, 2011 at 5:51 am
Some old cell phones are discarded with even the batteries and this is certainly going to raise the toxic levels once it goes into the landfills. E-waste is a problem, for how long are we going to export it to dumping sites in some countries? those get recycled, can’t we do that here in the country? More companies should introduce a take back policy.