How to Recycle a Cell Phone

Delivering Your Cell Phone to Recycling Companies

Take your cell phone to a cell phone recycling center. Cell phone recycling centers will either return your cell phone directly to the manufacturer or safely dispose of the toxic materials so that they do not negatively affect the environment. Call the Call2Recycle customer service team to learn of the nearest cell phone recycling center in your area, or visit their website. Donate to American Cell Phone Drive, Hope Phones, or Recycling for Charities. EXPERT TIP Kathryn Kellogg Kathryn Kellogg Sustainability Specialist Kathryn Kellogg is the founder of goingzerowaste.com, a lifestyle website dedicated to breaking eco-friendly living down into a simple step-by-step process with lots of positivity and love. Kathryn is the author of two books focusing on sustainability, 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste and 101 Tips for a Zero Waste Kitchen. She is the spokesperson for plastic-free living for National Geographic, has been featured by the Guardian, CNN, Refinery29, and Bustle, and has a following on instagram of over 700k. Kathryn Kellogg Kathryn Kellogg Sustainability Specialist Look for an organization that's certified to handle electronics. Kathryn Kellogg, author of 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste, says: "There are a lot of charities and organizations that recycle old cell phones, so it's easy to find one you'd like to partner with. However, it's important to make sure the charity you choose is certified to handle e-waste. It's important to have the proper tools to process those items, because otherwise, the waste can be very harmful for employees and for the environment."

Drop off your phone at an automated kiosk. For example, EcoATM is a kiosk in grocery stores where you can drop off any phone in any condition and get cash for it. Check their website for locations.

Put your phone in a phone recycling bin located inside various businesses. Eco-Cell will give you money if the phone is reusable. If not they will responsibly recycle it for you, and you will get money for the recycled materials.

Giving a Cell Phone to Someone in Need

Give your cell phone to the military. Cell Phones for Soldiers and Operation Gratitude are programs that collect used cell phones then donate them to military soldiers overseas so they can speak to their families back home. Cell Phones for Soldiers provides a prepaid shipping label for your cell phone or will give you directions to the nearest drop-off location. Operation Gratitude gives you a prepaid shipping label to send in your cell phone.

Donate your cell phone to victims of domestic violence. Since all cell phones allow you to dial emergency services without a wireless calling plan, your cell phone can be used by a victim of domestic violence in case of an emergency. Contact a domestic abuse shelter or women's shelter in your local area to verify whether or not they are accepting used cell phone donations. Contact the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence or the Shelter Alliance to obtain a prepaid shipping label for your cell phone. Both of these organizations distribute used cell phones to various domestic abuse shelters.

Give your cell phone to a refugee. Even though this is not the simplest way to recycle your phone, it is worth looking into since it is such a need among refugees. Refugee Phones accepts phones in England or Sweden by mail or drop off. Within the U.S. you would need to contact your local Refugee Resettlement organization and ask if they accept cell phone donations for refugees.

Turning Your Cell Phone in to Tech Companies

Return your used cell phone to your wireless service provider. Wireless service providers often have drop-off bins at their store locations or mail-in programs you can take advantage of for recycling your cell phone. Contact your wireless service provider directly by telephone, or visit their website or a retail store to learn more about their respective recycling programs.

Give your cell phone to a wireless provider’s campaign. For example, Sprint Project Connect accepts all phones in any condition regardless of carrier.

Visit a retail store in your local area that collects and recycles cell phones. Examples of participating retail stores are Radio Shack, Staples, Office Depot, Best Buy, Home Depot, and Lowes.