Where Old Cell Phones Go to Die
The average cell phone user--and there are 200 million of us in the U.S.--gets a new phone about every 18 months, according to a recent article on MSN. What becomes of the old ones? Tens of thousands of them, each one containing toxic materials, end up in landfills every day. Fortunately, there are alternatives that are both better for the environment and good for your wallet. RIPMobile gives gift certificates from stores like Circuit City in exchange for certain used cell phones and Cellforcash.com gives, you guessed it, cash. Both companies will even send you a free shipping label. If your phone doesn't qualify for either company's program, CollectiveGood will at least give you the forms you need to claim a small tax deduction for a phone that you send in for proper recycling.
Matt's View
Of course, the other way to save the environment and our money is to keep our cell phone for a long time. Today's phones have become fashion statements and the fashion industry is built on planned obsolescence--the endless parade of new styles designed to keep our relationship with our money short term. Sure, our old phone may not be painted a designer color or enable us to keep up with our favorite sit-coms, but hey, it can still make a call.
This article filed in: Environment
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