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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?