I am a very passionate person, especially when it comes to the environment (it's true, I am a "green" freak) and technology. However, these two things do not typically benefit one another - especially when it comes to e-Waste. Half of Americans own a smartphone but according to the U.S. EPA, only 11% actually recycle their old smartphones when they make a new mobile device purchase. In 2010, the EPA estimated that 152,000,000 mobiles devices were disposed of in the United States. This amounts to 135,000,000 devices being trashed and only 17,400,000 devices being recycled.
UK based, Love2Recycle, which is part of the ANOVO Group, put together this info-graphic, which sheds some light on what goes into producing a mobile phone and what the latter effects are after purchase. The issue does not lie in purchasing the latest and greatest device for yourself, but rather what are you doing with your other phones that are gathering dust in your cupboards at home. The average person has 2 mobile devices sitting at home that are not being used.
There are countless ways to recycle and donate your mobile devices that you no longer use, plus through some programs, you can make some money in the process.
UK & Europe: Love2Recycle
United States: MaxBack (with United States Postal Service), e-Cycle, AT&T Reuse & Recycle, Sprint Re:cycle, Verizon HopeLine
Info-graphic Courtesy of Love2Recycle
We want to know, do you recycle your mobile devices? If so, what programs have you used? Let us know in the comments!