by Jean Ervin

Why Recycle Used Cell Phones?

Currently there are more than 150 million cellular phone users in the United States. It is estimated that 100 million cell phones are retired annually in this country. Of those phones no longer being used, 75% of them are lying in drawers in people’s homes or offices!

This is just the amount of cell phones ‘thrown away’ in the United States for one year!

While there are many different types of cell phones, most contain a variety of Persistent, Bioaccumulative Toxins or PBTs such as arsenic, beryllium, copper, lead and zinc.

PBTs are persistent in that they linger in the environment for a long time without degrading, increasing the risk of exposure to human beings if these phones end up in our landfills.

PBTs can spread over large areas, moving easily between air, water and soil. They accumulate in the fatty tissues of human beings and other animals, increasing as they move up the food chain. As a result, they can reach toxic levels over time, even when released in very small quantities.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), PBTs are associated with a range of adverse human health effects, including damage to the nervous system, reproductive and developmental problems, cancer and genetic impacts.

What Can You Do?

By donating retired cell phones to Wildlife Waystation’s recycling program, it will cut down on the number of phones that would end up in our landfills. Reusing cell phones means that fewer need to be recycled, resulting in less money that needs to be spent by our communities to dispose of this hazardous waste.

Wildlife Waystation – www.wildlifewaystation.org – has partnered with Eco-Cell to recycle these cell phones for you. Approximately 80% of these phones will be refurbished and reused by low income users in 3rd World Countries or by charities such as Battered Women’s Programs. All unusable cell phones and accessories will be recycled under strict EPA guidelines.

You can bring your cell phones to our office or mail them to us. If you would like brochures explaining the program then send an e-mail to Kathy Eshenko.