Why donate your cell phones, you ask?
While I’m sure it’s having a great time gathering dust in your drawer, don’t you think your old buddy would have more fun living a life of purpose?
There are more than 130 million cell phones just like yours in the United States sitting in drawers waiting for their chance to make a difference. If you’re still on the fence on whether or not you want to donate cell phones here are 12 reasons…that may sway you.
1. The mining of metals for cell phones and other electronics is the #1 cause of toxic pollution in the United States.
2. Gorillas and other African species in the Republic of Congo are increasingly threatened by mining for coltan, an element used to make cellphone batteries.
3. Refurbished cell phones modern communication to individuals who would otherwise find it unaffordable.
4. One million cell phones contain 33 pounds of palladium, 75 pounds of gold, 772 pounds of silver and 35,274 pounds of copper. These resources can be recovered and used to make new cell phones.
5. Cell phones contain toxic materials such as Arsenic, Antimony, Beryllium, Cadmium, Copper, Lead, Nickel and Zinc. If these materials are not properly disposed of they can contaminate air, soil and groundwater.
6. Many of the hazardous substances found in cell phones form toxins during incineration which may cause cancer and a range of reproductive, neurological and developmental disorders.
7. The cadmium from a single cell phone is capable of polluting 158,200 gallons of water. (That’s 2.4 million 8-ounce sodas!)
8. Nearly all of the materials found in cell phones can be recycled to make new products.
9. If we recycled every cell phone discarded in the United States annually we would save enough energy to power more than 24,000 homes for a year.
10. Recycling just one cell phone saves enough energy to power a laptop for 44 hours.
11. Over 100 million cell phones are stockpiled in American households creating 50,000 tons of potentially hazardous waste.
12. If you donate your cell phone with SecondWave Recycling not only will you be saving the world but you will also help benefit your charity of choice. It’s a win-win.
So next time you upgrade your cell phone, don’t toss your old one or store it in a drawer. Join us and make a difference, one phone at a time.
Sources: (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
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