Over the years people have bought many variations of the mobile phone. Some people may still have old mobiles stashed away in a cupboard or drawer.
So what happens to these unused and old mobiles?
Some people sell them to raise some money, some simply throw them in the bin. But in the past few years there have been companies like Envirofone and Mazuma who, after filling in details about your phone, will give you a price and send you a cheque.
One of the more serious issues of non-recycling of old phones is that plastic isn’t a biodegradable material, meaning that any plastic that is thrown away or simply discarded causes damage not only to the environment, but wildlife and water pollution. As the majority of mobile phones have plastic casings, a lot of damage has already been done due to the materials used to create plastic, such as Benzene and Vinyl Chloride. Most of these chemicals can cause Cancer, blood and kidney problems, immune and nervous system damage as well as other illnesses.
Every mobile phone that is recycled can become any one of a number of electronic products - everything, including the screen, buttons and chips inside an old mobile can be upgraded and placed into a newer model. Even an old beat-up mobile you find outside can be recycled. If your’re a person who enjoys charity work, collecting old mobile phones can be a great way to give a less fortunate person a chance to enjoy a piece of technology that people take for granted.
Not everyone cares enough to recycle: according to a recent survey one out of ten people simply throw their old phones in the bin, but if a family member or friend has an old phone try asking them if you could recycle the phone, or help them fill in those details online, or show them places where they can recycle. The amount of discarded phones and other products that are not properly recycled are having a massive effect on the world.
Are the benefits of recycling your old mobile phones worth the effort? Yes. Not only will you gain some extra money, you could help someone less fortunate than you and know you have helped the planet. Just make sure you wipe your phone memory clean before sending it to be recycled - don’t want people getting hold of your family and friends numbers.
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