How many cell phones have you gone through in your lifetime? Most of us have probably lost track at this point. You might have one or two old phones gathering dust in a drawer at home or in your office right now. Every upgrade brings up the question – what’s the best way to dispose of old phones? Cell phone recycling is definitely the responsible choice. But putting your phone in the recycling bin doesn’t seem right (and it’s not), and returning your old phone to the manufacturer or a recycling program might feel risky.
There are two basic concerns when disposing of old cell phones. First: data security/data destruction. Like with hard drives and other kinds of data-storing devices, it’s nerve-wracking to part with old cell phones because you know just how much private, sensitive information these devices can hold. Second: sustainability. Proper disposal of electronic waste has become a top concern in recent years. Cell phone recycling has big environmental benefits, and you should know that your old devices are actually being managed in a responsible way and not just being dumped in landfills, which is illegal.
Here’s what you need to know in order to make sure every phone you get rid of is recycled in a way that’s both secure and responsible.
What are the benefits of cell phone recycling?
The precious metals in smartphones are highly valuable. One phone contains very small amounts of these metals and it takes a lot of effort to disassemble all those components, which is why your local recycler probably isn’t going to pay for your broken phone. However, cell phone recycling can be used to recover those precious metals, minimizing demand for virgin materials to be mined. (According to the EPA, recycling 1 million smartphones can yield 35,274 pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold and 33 pounds of palladium.)
Cell phone recycling also keeps these devices out of landfills slowing down the rate at which they fill up. Keeping phones out of landfills also keeps toxic chemicals from leaching out of phone batteries and into the groundwater and soil.
What are safe ways to dispose of old cell phones for recycling?
Electronics stores including Best Buy and Staples accept e-waste including cell phones for recycling through in-store and mail-in programs. Phone retailers such as Apple will accept their own devices for recycling, even if a phone is too broken to earn you any credit as a trade-in. Many charitable organizations also accept broken phones as donations. There are also privately run businesses that take old devices, either using public collection bins or mail-in services.
Ultimately there’s no one “best” or most secure place to recycle your old phones. As long as you take the proper precautions to clear your devices of all private data, you can feel pretty safe dropping them off at any electronics retailer/phone store that’s convenient to you. If it’s important to you that your devices are handled in an environmentally responsible way, you can be assured that the major electronics retailers have partnerships with reputable recycling services.
How do I protect my sensitive data before recycling a cell phone?
Data security and proper data destruction should always be top of mind when you’re getting rid of electronic waste, whether you’re disposing of personal devices or devices that are part of your business. The chances are slim that a phone you recycle will end up in the hands of someone who’s going to try to find private data hidden in the phone’s memory. But it’s certainly not impossible, so make sure to wipe all data before recycling cell phones. (Just think about how much your phone knows about you—you definitely don’t want to share access to all that information with anyone!)
First, removing the SIM card is a must. If the phone can be powered on, delete any accounts that you have configured on the phone, including email programs and social media accounts. You can download a data-erasing app for additional peace of mind. Finally, restore the phone to factory settings. This step wipes all of your data that’s stored in the phone itself.
If your broken phone won’t turn on, check with the manufacturer to see if there’s a way to remotely wipe its data before recycling it; for example, you may be able to erase the data from a dead iPhone using the Find My app.
How are old cell phones recycled?
“Cell phone recycling” is really a kind of broad phrase because there are a few different ways that discarded phones may be repurposed. Different retailers/recycling services use different approaches. Some of the phones that get turned over for recycling can be refurbished and resold. Or, usable parts will be removed from broken phones so they can be assembled with other recycled parts to make “new” phones.
Commercial recycling services can also run phones through powerful industrial shredders and then separate the metal, plastic and glass so these various components can be further processed and recycled into new materials.
Have Questions About Cell Phone Recycling?
While Northeast Data Destruction doesn’t provide cell phone recycling ourselves, we’re always here as a resource for any data destruction questions that might come up for our customers. Our sister company Miller Recycling is also a resource for any e-waste disposal questions you might have. If there’s anything I can do to help you and/or your business safeguard your private data, don’t hesitate to contact me today.