Why You Should Recycle Your Mobile Phone

The phone buzzes uncontrollably; all through the day- sometimes at night. It is the first thing we reach out for, even when we have a partner by our sides. Have our mobile phones become an outward extension of ourselves? That’s a story for another day.

The growth of mobile phones has brought about fundamental changes in the way we behave and interact with the world around us. We seem to think they are or treasure them, we are often quick to let go of the old mobile phone.

When there’s a new kid on the block, or when we think they have outlived their functions (quite not the ‘outward extension’ of yourself, aye?)

Growth of mobile phones

More than 5 billion people have cellphones over the world, and many of them are in a constant frenzy of replacing old phones for newer models.

Here’s one quick question: when your mobile qualifies as an old model and you replace it, what do you do with that old phone?

Impact of mobile phones on the environment

Some people throw them away in the trash, and the phones end up drifting through waste streams, landing in landfills, leaching toxins into the environment; leading to a loss of over 50 billion every year. For some others, the phones are kept in drawers and left for long periods, unused!

What if there’s a better, environmentally conscious, societally-beneficial approach to letting go of our old mobiles?

Recycle, refurbish or resell

There are recycling centres which refurbish and resell old phones, rehabilitating them while making the world a better place.

This is only possible because old phones (regardless of the model or how to hold they are) possess some bits of sophisticated circuitry, making them useful even after fulfilling their lifespans.

In this world of smartphones and highly connected devices, that old phone can do so much more!

At the very least, you’ll be able to sleep well at night knowing you have done better with your phone. Instead of allowing it to accumulate and contribute to the huge piles of e-waste in the world today.

Overcoming e-waste

How about you become one of the great, environmentally conscious individuals who seek to make the world a better place for everyone, by recycling your phone and its parts?

Even if you don’t reap direct benefits from it right now. You would be doing such a good thing that generations of people after you can be proud of your ancestral lineage.

All because in your little way, you contributed to a better ecosystem (this is not the same as innovating something mind-blowing, but it’s pretty close!)  

How e-waste is affecting conservation

The demand for mobile phones has a knock-on effect on the environment as the need for minerals and resources increase. To illustrate, check out this infographic on how the Congo is affected by the mining for smartphone dependant resources. 

Infographic: How Smartphones result in the death of Gorillas: Download the hi-res version

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Tags: Smartphone , Recycling, Guest Post