How to Recycle Your Smartphone

In our technological society today it seems that everyone has a cell phone. A good majority of cell phone users are making the switch to Smartphones because they allow you to do so many things, all from one device. Many existing Smartphone owners are upgrading as well and then it's all about what to do with those old phones.

Cell phones contain toxic metals that are harmful to the environment and that affect human health as well. They should never just be thrown into the trash. It can also be very wasteful to send that old phone to the landfill when there are other ways it could be reused or recycled.

When you recycle your Smartphone responsibly, these metals can be reused which reduces the need for new metal mining and it saves stress on the environment and its resources.

Help keep toxic metals out of the environment with the Recycle My Cell Phone campaign. This is an excellent website set up to help you learn more about recycling your Smartphone or any type of cell phone. To use this service, you simply mail your phone to:

EARTHWORKS
c/o Recycle My Cell Phone
1612 K St., NW
Suite 808
Washington, D.C.
20006

You can mail your charger with the phone but chargers by themselves are not accepted. You do not have to remove the batteries for this recycling company either because they recycle literally every part. They proudly explain that they do not have a dumpster at their facility.

Prep Your Phone for Recycling

A Smartphone is easier to wipe clean that older model cell phones. You can simply plug your device in using the USB cord or remove the data storage card from the device, which you will want to do anyway before recycling it. Then you can back up all of your data, photos, music files and more onto your computer or transfer them to the new phone before disposing of your existing phone.

After you remove the info that you need, check to see if your Smartphone has an option to return to factory settings. This is the best way to ensure all of your personal info is removed from the phone. It's like a reset button.

Recycle Your BlackBerry

If you have a BlackBerry, then it is even easier than ever before to recycle your Smartphone. BlackBerry has a phone recycling program that allows you to quickly and easily recycle your old phone. Once you have completed the steps above to clean out the data on your cell phone, you can visit their website and download a pre-paid mailing label. Here you will also find other information you need regarding how to recycle your BlackBerry.