Facts On Mobile Phone Recyling

The sobering facts about recycling mobile phones for money

It seems like a no-brainer: UK residents have the opportunity to recycle their old mobile phones for cash. There’s no reason, then, why anyone would still throw their old mobiles away, right?

Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. Despite the fact that there is a small army of private recycling companies willing to pay cash for unwanted mobile phones, the vast majority of UK residents still either throw away their old mobiles or simply stow them in a cubbyhole or desk drawer someplace.

No matter how you look at it, this doesn’t make sense. Consumers who don’t recycle their phones are both missing out the opportunity to bring some extra pocket cash into their lives and hurting the environment. They’re doing all of this with just one rather callous act.

Look at the environment first: We all think we’re “green.” But anyone who doesn’t recycle their old mobile phones can’t truly think of themselves as being environmentally friendly.

When mobiles are recycled, they often end up in the hands of needy people who otherwise can’t afford mobile phones. Other times, they are sent to charities or non-profit agencies. These groups are often in desperate need of working mobile phones. Most of them, though, have extremely limited budgets. They can’t afford to purchase their own mobile phones.

But here’s what happens when consumers throw their old mobile phones in the trash: These formerly in-demand electronic items end up in local landfills. Once there, they often leak potential hazardous chemicals into the soil. As you can see, this is an extremely unhealthy situation.

You can change all this, though, by recycling your old mobile phone for cash. It’s an easy process, and some of the more desirable mobile phone models will bring you 50 pounds or more in return.

First, find one of the many companies – with such names as Envirofone.com, EarthMobile.com or SellOldMobile.com – that run mobile phone recycling Web sites. Once you find one, log on and search for your particular mobile phone make and model.

You can then click on the phone to find out what the private recycling company is offering. If you like the offer, accept it, mail your phone to the recycler and wait about seven business days for your payment to arrive.

If you’re not satisfied with the offer you receive, don’t fret. You can simply visit the Web sites of a competitor. Remember, there are plenty of private recycling firms on the Internet today. You should be able, with just a bit of persistence, to find a fair offer for your old mobile phone.

By taking part in this process, you can help change some of the depressing statistics regarding mobile phone recycling in the UK. Did you know, for instance, that of the 90 million or so unwanted mobile phones in the country, only a tiny fraction are ever recycled? In fact, only 3 percent of mobile phone owners ever recycle their old phones.

At the same time, a total of 75 percent of UK residents have no idea how to recycle mobile phones. This is depressing because mobile phones are actually incredibly recyclable. About 80 percent of the components of most mobile phones can be recycled.

There is hope, though. The number of recycling companies that pay cash for old mobiles is increasing. This, perhaps, will encourage more UK residents to divert their own old mobile phones from the waste stream.

Mobile phone recycling simply makes good sense. If you need to upgrade your old phone, consider selling your mobile for cash. You’ll be a true steward of the environment if you do so.