A Dead Ringer

What to do with old mobile phones?

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably got half a dozen outdated mobile phone handsets sitting in a drawer somewhere gathering dust. Globally these old phones and other e-waste account for 70% of heavy metals in landfills. Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, and PCB’s & PVC’s are some of the potentially harmful substances that can leech into the earth after their disposal. Almost all electronic devices, and most certainly phones are made with a planned obsolescence. The phone may not work, or it may be perfectly functional for many years to come yet regardless it will lose its appeal as it ages. There will always be a newer model, with more features and functions just over the horizon. So what are your options? You can donate the handset to charity where it may find a grateful and needy recipient. You can send it back to the manufacturer to be recycled or you can try and offset the cost of your next phone bill by selling your old handset for what is likely to be a token sum. The amount you recover will depend heavily on the age, model, and compatibility of your handset. With the $0 upfront plans on offer for brand new phones it’s likely that 18 months after purchase your old phone will serve you well…as a paperweight.
What will you do with your old handsets? Do old phones have sentimental value? How long will you keep your current phone? What would tempt you to upgrade?