where do i donate old cell phones

How do you dispose of used cell phones?

Apr 30, 2019 · 5 Ways to Donate Your Old Smartphone or Cell Phone to Charity 1. Help Soldiers Call Home Cell Phones for Soldiers provides talk time to overseas troops so they can call home. Founded... 2. Help Victims of Domestic Violence The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) collects cell phones ...

Who accepts old cell phones?

You can donate phones easily by using the 3 options listed below. If you have any questions about donating, please contact us directly at [email protected]. Self-Paid Help Cell Phones for Soldiers by paying for shipping. Donate Now prepaid CPFS will pay for your shipping if you plan to ship 10 phones or more. drop-off

Where to donate cell phones locally?

If you want to responsibly dispose of an old cell phone you aren’t using, and make some instant cash, check for a local kiosk machine like ecoATM. EcoATM has over 3,000 kiosk locations throughout the United States. These kiosks accept all major brands of cell phones and tablets even if they are broken in return you’ll get an instant cash payout.

Where can I buy old cell phones?

Take Action Donate a Phone With the help of our partnership with Cellular Recycler, NCADV receives a portion of funds from the sale of refurbished electronics, like cell phones, laptops, and video game systems.

What do I do with an old cell phone?

Providing the phone still works, you can donate your old smartphone to a number of charities that have partnered with cell phone refurbishing compa...

Are old cell phones worth anything?

Old cell phones aren’t worth much because there isn't much demand for them. If it’s not particularly old (just used), then you can try reselling it...

Is it safe to use an old Android phone?

Since old smartphones and android phones do not come with the now-required safety configurations, it may not be safe for you to use them to store a...

What was the very first smartphone?

The very first smartphone was launched by IBM in 1992 and was released to the general public for purchase in 1994. This device wasn't entirely comp...

Is Android 5 still safe?

While Android 5 lacks the security patches that make the smartphones of today safe, you can still use it. However, consider updating it with extern...

Can I recycle cell phones in my curbside recycling program?

No. You should never put your old cell phone, tablet, or any other electronic device in your curbside recycling bins. Anything with a power cord or...

Where to get the most cash for old cell phones?

If you want to know how to get top dollar money for that old phone you may need to check a couple of sites, and also take advantage of any promo co...

Can I repair my Phone instead of Recycling?

Obviously this will depend on the issue with your current phone. If the battery is not holding a charge consider purchasing a new battery online. I...

Why should I recycle my cell phone?

If you’re looking for a convincing reason to recycle your cell phone simply look at the facts. Cell phones actually contain hazardous materials tha...

What happens to recycled mobile phones?

Many of us know we should recycle all of our small electronics, but how does recycling cell phones actually work? Well if your device is not refurb...

What can I do with my old phone case, charger, or accessories?

Many of the above mentioned outlets for recycling also accept chargers, adaptors and even accessories, if the phone case is still in good shape you...

Does Goodwill or Salvation Army accept Cell Phones?

Yes, both Goodwill and the Salvation Army accept small electronic devices, including cell phones. You will definitely want to be certain to encrypt...

Why do some organizations refurbish and reprogram phones?

Some organizations refurbish and reprogram phones to provide to needy individuals and law enforcement agencies and others sell donated cell phones as a way of raising money to provide services to disadvantaged populations.

What is 911 cell phone bank?

The 911 Cell Phone Bank accepts donations of used cell phones that are used to provide support and assistance to participating law enforcement entities and charitable organizations that provide services to victims throughout the United States. Nonprofit organizations that choose to participate in the program are asked to collect used phones and send them to the Cell Phone Bank. A donation is made for each phone received. Depending on condition and technology, some donated phones are recycled while others are refurbished and provided to participating law enforcement agencies as needed. You can send phones to them in the mail with a downloadable label or request a pickup if you have ten or more.

What is second wave recycling?

Second Wave Recycling will take donations of used cellphones that are working or non-working, as well as tablets. They sell the phones to raise funds for the Wounded Warrior Project and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. All you need to do is download a self-paid shipping label from their website if you have one or two items, or a pre-paid shipping label if you have three or more. If you have over 100 items, they can arrange for special shipping arrangements.

What is the VA Advantage?

Veterans Advantage. This non-profit provides benefits for active duty military, veterans and their families on services like prescription drugs, financial planning and insurance. They will take used cell phones, as well as laptops, tablets, printer cartridges, ereaders and any other small, portable electronic devices.

Do cell phones need to be working to be donated?

Phones do not need to be working to be donated.

Can you use a pre-paid label for only one phone?

There are shipping labels, both self-paid and pre-paid, that you can download from the website and use to ship the phones to Secure the Call. You are welcome to use the pre-paid label for only one phone, although paying for shipping yourself will help the organization to save money.

Does NCADV take cell phones?

NCADV takes donated cell phones and sells them through Cellular Recycler to raise money for their organization. In addition to phones they also take laptops, MP3 players, video game systems and phone accessories like chargers, cords, and cases. If you donate three or more items, you can get free shipping to mail your items directly to them.

How much of cell phones are recycled?

Even so, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency currently estimates only about 20 percent of all cell phones are recycled [source: LeBlanc ]. Most cell phone providers have drop-off bins or mail-in programs to make recycling your old phone easy, but there are lots of ways you can recycle your phone and give to others. ...

How many phones have been given away by soldiers?

Founded in 2004 by two young teenagers who were distraught after learning of a soldier who racked up an $8,000 phone bill while serving in Iraq, Cell Phones for Soldiers has since collected more than 20 million devices and given away more than 400 million minutes of talk time to service personnel.

What is Medic Mobile?

Medic Mobile recycles and refurbishes old phones and tablets and uses the funds to buy mobile devices that medical workers use on the job in 26 countries, mostly in Asia, Latin America, or Africa. These devices register pregnancies, track disease outbreaks, and communicate about medical emergencies. Advertisement.

What are cell phones made of?

They're are made with precious metals, copper and plastics, all of which can be recycled to make new products. Even so, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency currently estimates only about 20 percent ...

What does NCADV do?

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) collects cell phones to help fund their programs. They accept phones and partner with Cellular Recycler, which sells refurbished electronics. Some of the funds from those sales then goes back to NCADV. They'll also accept other types of old electronics, too, including old laptops, digital cameras, video game consoles, and MP3 players, along with all of the related charging cords and accessories.

What is second wave recycling?

Second Wave Recycling is an organization that accepts older phones, iPods and MP3 players, tablets and e-readers, handheld gaming devices, smart watches and even charging cables. Newer and functional devices are refurbished and then sold for cash. Older devices are recycled. The money from those processes is donated to fund a designated charity. Second Wave is actively funding the Wounded Warrior Project, which offers support services for military personnel who've been hurt while serving the U.S., but the organization has supported other causes, too, including charities that benefit medical patients, domestic abuse survivors, animals rescues, and many others. You can choose which charity to support.

When was the first smartphone invented?

The very first smartphone was launched by IBM in 1992 and was released to the general public for purchase in 1994. This device wasn't entirely compact and was soon replaced by more innovative versions.

prepaid

CPFS will pay for your shipping if you plan to ship 10 phones or more.

Self-Paid

Thank you for taking the extra step to cover shipping costs for your donated devices! Not only is your device donation tax deductible but so are the shipping costs.

How to recycle a cell phone?

First and foremost though let’s cover how to prepare your mobile phone for recycling. Some basic tips on preparation for recycling are: 1 If you have up-graded make sure the cell carrier you use transfers all your data to your new device. 2 You will want to factory reset your phone to wipe all your data and remove all your personal information from it. For added security in wiping your cell phone you can also remove your SIM card or SD card if it hasn’t already been transferred to your new phone. 3 If you have an Android take an extra step and encrypt your data, because a factory reset may not entirely wipe your personal data. 4 If possible you should remove the battery from your cell phone for separate recycling.

How long can a laptop run on recycled cell phones?

You can power a laptop for 44 hours with the energy saved from recycling a single cell phone. In the US we could power more than 24,000 homes for an entire year with the energy saved from the 130 million cell phones that are tossed.

What is the purpose of cell phones for soldiers?

Cell Phones for Soldiers is another organization that accepts cell phone donations, they sell the phones to a recycler or refurbishing company and use the profits to provide talk time for servicemen stationed overseas, to call home.

Can Verizon give you prepaid postage?

They will send you a prepaid postage envelope if requested, then once they evaluate how much it’s worth you can use the credit towards new tech or services or donate that value to the troops. Verizon Device Trade-in Program – allows you to trade-in or donate your old device.

Can you get paid by check or PayPal?

If you like the offer they will send you a postage paid envelope to send it in. You can get paid by check or through Paypal. Eco Cell is another great company that will accept any phone, any condition as well as game systems, tablets, adaptors, chargers, and other gadgets.

Does Verizon accept phone for recycling?

Depending on the value you may earn an account credit or Verizon wireless gift card. If your device isn’t accepted in the trade-in program, Verizon’s Hopeline will accept any phone for reuse or recycling and be donated along with 3,000 minutes of wireless service to domestic violence organizations.

Donating fewer than three (3) phones?

Unfortunately, this does not qualify for free shipping. Please follow these instructions:

How much is my item worth?

Learn how much your donation will generate for NCADV with the below link.

Want to hold a collection?

Thank you for your support! Click here to order free collection boxes and posters and ship your items using the information under “Donating three or more phones” above. Have questions about holding a collection?

What is cell phone for soldiers?

Cell Phones for Soldiers is a nonprofit that works to provide cost-free communication services to active-duty military and veterans. New or gently used mobile phones are accepted and each device valued at $5 turns into 2.5 hours of free talk time for the soldiers.

When was Hope Phones started?

Hope Phones. The Hope Phones campaign was started in 2009 by Medic Mobile, which works to advance health care in 16 countries by using mobile technology. Individuals, nonprofits, groups, or businesses can host a Hope Phones campaign to donate old phones.

What is call2recyle?

Call2Recyle is a no-cost recycling program for batteries and cell phones in the US and Canada. It has collection boxes that can be placed anywhere, which have shipping permits so mailing them is easy. They also have bulk shipping if there is a large amount of recyclables.

How much of e-waste is made up of phones?

A study by the EPA showed that only 11% of e-waste is made up of mobile phones, which means almost 90% of them are ending up in landfills or sitting in desk drawers. Also according to the EPA, for every million cell phones we recycle, we can save 35,000 pounds of copper, 774 pounds of gold, and 33 pounds of palladium.

How many phones were purchased in 2013?

In 2013, 1.8 billion mobile phones were purchased, an almost 4% increase from 2012, according to Gartner. In the last quarter of 2013 alone almost half a billion were purchased -- and that number was predicted to grow by almost 5% this year.

What happens if a phone is not reusable?

If the phones are reusable, they resell them and pass some of the money back to the owner. If they are not reusable, the phones are recycled and the owner is paid the money for the value of the recycled materials. 3. Best Buy.

Where is Eco Cell located?

Eco-Cell. Eco-Cell is a Louisville, Kentucky- based e-waste recycling company. It partners with nonprofits and organizations such as the Jane Goodall Institute. Bins are located in coffee shops and other businesses around the country, where the collected phones are shipped to Eco-Cell in Louisville.

What to do before recycling old phones?

What to Do Before Recycling or Donating Old Cell Phones. Back Up Your Data. Depending on how long you had your old cell phone, it is probably safe to assume there are some important files on there. The average person has 630 photos on their cell phone – that is a lot of precious memories that you certainly don’t want to lose!

How often do people throw away cell phones?

Statistics suggest that around 130 million cell phones are tossed aside annually, which is not surprising considering most Americans get a new cell phone every 18 to 24 months. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your current phone or cleaning out the junk drawer, you cannot simply throw cell phones in the trash. Electronic waste is a big concern in the United States. According to a UN report, only 20% discard their old phones properly.

What is a factory reset?

A factory reset is a built-in feature most cell phones have. The software erases any internal memory left on the device. It is referred to as a “factory reset” because it returns your phone to the state it was in when it left the factory.

Why do recyclers offer certificates of data destruction?

Many recyclers offer certificates of data destruction as a way to verify that any personal information has been destroyed. Ask about Environmental Commitments. Choose a recycler that is transparent and environmentally responsible. Improper e-waste recycling leads to negative environmental and human health impacts.

What certifications are required for e-waste disposal?

There are currently two accredited certifications recognized by the EPA for e-waste disposal and recycling – the Responsible Recycling Practices (R2) and the e-Stewards standards. Both certification programs share practices that ensure the responsible recycling and disposal of used electronics.

What happens if you forget to back up your files before doing a factory reset?

So, if you forget to back-up your files before conducting a factory reset, those files are lost forever. The way you conduct a factory reset depends on the model and software version.

What happens if you erase a cell phone?

The idea is that if your cell phone were stolen and then erased, it would lock out the thief and prevent the phone from being used. However, the unintended consequence of not disabling this feature means that your phone could not be reused or recycled for anything more than scrap materials.

How much gold is recycled in a cell phone?

To demonstrate the importance of recycling, the article mentions that every time one million cell phones are recycled, they yield: 35,274 pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold and 33 pounds of palladium. This is important to consider since only about 12.5% of e-waste is actually recycled, according to the same article.

What happens when you throw away a cell phone?

When you throw away your phone, it is treated as waste and either burned (releasing hazardous chemicals into the air) or left in a landfill where the soil will absorb the toxic chemicals. Reduced energy consumption: When you recycle cell phones, you save energy through re-purposing.

What is the recycling process?

The Recycling Process. During the recycling process, any part of a mobile device that is usable is repurposed instead of being immediately thrown out. The process generally starts when the recycler ships the batteries off to be recycled at a specialized establishment.

What is an eco friendly phone?

Eco-Friendly Phones and Accessories. Eco-friendly devices exist; they have ECO Specs and are created with packaging, production, phone efficiency, and materials in mind. There are various apps and phone settings that can help with energy efficiency as well.

What are cell phones made of?

The materials used to make cell phones generally consist of: Various metals, including common alloys, as well as some precious metals like ...

What is a Pela case?

Pela: Cases are 100% compostable, biodegradable, and made of flax. Ocean75: While most cases are plastic-based, this company makes their cases with recycled fishing nets. PITAKA: This company designs cork cases that are durable, flexible and non-damaging to the environment.

How much of e-waste is recycled?

This is important to consider since only about 12.5% of e-waste is actually recycled, according to the same article. It becomes important to understand and implement best practices surrounding cell phone recycling.