‘Tis the season for gift giving and many of those gifts will include new cell phones and other small electronic devices. With that, comes the need to dispose of all the recently discarded cell phones, etc. There are several ways to get rid of your old cell phones and do it in an environmentally conscious way.

An excellent resource is your local domestic violence organization/shelter. Even though a cell phone’s provider service is discontinued, as long as the phone is in good working order and is charged up, it will still make emergency calls to 911.

Local organizations collect the unwanted cell phones, clear all the owner and call history information, and reissue the phones to those who are in need of a phone for possible emergency situations.

Many retail locations now accept cell phones and rechargeable batteries.  Home Depot, Sears, Lowe’s, Staples, just to name a few. You can also go to Call2Recycle’s website and search by your zip code for more locations.

Why should you recycle your old cell phones?

As stated on the RecycleMyCellPhone.org website; cell phones are potentially hazardous waste because they contain lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic. If thrown in the trash and sent to incinerators or landfills, environmental contamination can occur from combustion and leaching into soil and groundwater.

Please take the time to gather up the unwanted cell phones, PDA’s and such from your home or office and find recycler or worthy organization to donate them to.  Most  non-profit organizations will even provide a donation receipt that you can use for tax purposes.

Take that extra step and find eco-friendly ways to dispose of these and other discarded items this holiday season.